What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ghost of Avalon
Avalon was killed five years ago. Though her body survived, she was left scarred and changed, living in the shadows. Hidden from her past, she hunts those who prey on the weak, using their bloodstained coin to keep a struggling orphanage alive.
When she discovers a note threatening the lives of the royal family, Avalon is forced to return to the castle where she died. There, the king asks her to stay and uncover the would-be assassin, but when he announces her return, not all within the castle rejoice. Reclaiming her title as Baroness only draws her deeper into treacherous politics and closer to the shadow that stalks her every move.
To unmask the killer, Avalon must confront the past she buried-and the ghost she has become.
Set against a medieval backdrop filled with political intrigue and deadly secrets, The Ghost of Avalon is a gripping mystery perfect for fans of unforgiving female protagonists, questionable truths, and second chances gone wrong.
When she discovers a note threatening the lives of the royal family, Avalon is forced to return to the castle where she died. There, the king asks her to stay and uncover the would-be assassin, but when he announces her return, not all within the castle rejoice. Reclaiming her title as Baroness only draws her deeper into treacherous politics and closer to the shadow that stalks her every move.
To unmask the killer, Avalon must confront the past she buried-and the ghost she has become.
Set against a medieval backdrop filled with political intrigue and deadly secrets, The Ghost of Avalon is a gripping mystery perfect for fans of unforgiving female protagonists, questionable truths, and second chances gone wrong.
268 pages, Paperback
Published January 27, 2026
11 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
January 13, 2026
”They’re too concerned about the ghost in front of them to give thought to the ones that haunt me.”
i don’t know if it’s just me, but i really could not get a grasp on this book. it felt like being thrown into an already established world, without the needed information to go along with it. Avalon is a vigilante of sorts, who was supposed to be dead but is somehow not. she gets roped back into her old life after discovering there’s someone targeting the royal family. i didn’t care for the romance, if you could even call it that and i just felt so detached from everything going on. i think the synopsis was misleading because what i thought i was getting isn’t what the actual book was.
➺ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Ringtale Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i don’t know if it’s just me, but i really could not get a grasp on this book. it felt like being thrown into an already established world, without the needed information to go along with it. Avalon is a vigilante of sorts, who was supposed to be dead but is somehow not. she gets roped back into her old life after discovering there’s someone targeting the royal family. i didn’t care for the romance, if you could even call it that and i just felt so detached from everything going on. i think the synopsis was misleading because what i thought i was getting isn’t what the actual book was.
➺ many thanks to NetGalley, the author and Ringtale Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
December 26, 2025
The title and description threw me off a little, but I quickly caught on!
We are thrown into the life of Avalon. A young, tough, and hurt girl that sneaks into the night as a vigilante to protect the city and its people from horrible men and their crimes. She discovers a plot to kill members of the royal family and decides to go back to the one place she never wanted to return to: the castle, her old life.
There, she reunites with people she hasn’t seen in years and who all thought she died. To uncover who is threatening the lives of the royals, she claims her title as Baroness and stays in the castle to investigate. There she has to deal with politics, status, greed and hostility. And the most important lesson: not everything and everyone is as it seems…
I loved the murder mystery, I loved Avalon as our FMC! She is strong and spicy but my god, my heart bleeds for her. The yellow dress… ugh. Get your tissues ready. And the way the literal scars she carries are used to identify her, just like the mental scars are woven into her person forever, is so powerful and so painful at the same time.
Can we take a second to acknowledge that misogyny is real and men will always fear women with power, but also women will fear women with power?! Holy crap… It took me a long time to figure out who actually did it, but it made so much sense! Well done.
Some relationships felt a little flat to me, but there’s only so much you can do in under 300 pages. But what a strong visual of how two men can see and treat the same woman completely different. And how some people (men…) struggle to understand the power of the word “no” while others perfectly understand it when a boundary is being set.
The final few sentences took my breath away… Will there be more to this story?
An early read via NetGalley — feelings included.
We are thrown into the life of Avalon. A young, tough, and hurt girl that sneaks into the night as a vigilante to protect the city and its people from horrible men and their crimes. She discovers a plot to kill members of the royal family and decides to go back to the one place she never wanted to return to: the castle, her old life.
There, she reunites with people she hasn’t seen in years and who all thought she died. To uncover who is threatening the lives of the royals, she claims her title as Baroness and stays in the castle to investigate. There she has to deal with politics, status, greed and hostility. And the most important lesson: not everything and everyone is as it seems…
I loved the murder mystery, I loved Avalon as our FMC! She is strong and spicy but my god, my heart bleeds for her. The yellow dress… ugh. Get your tissues ready. And the way the literal scars she carries are used to identify her, just like the mental scars are woven into her person forever, is so powerful and so painful at the same time.
Can we take a second to acknowledge that misogyny is real and men will always fear women with power, but also women will fear women with power?! Holy crap… It took me a long time to figure out who actually did it, but it made so much sense! Well done.
Some relationships felt a little flat to me, but there’s only so much you can do in under 300 pages. But what a strong visual of how two men can see and treat the same woman completely different. And how some people (men…) struggle to understand the power of the word “no” while others perfectly understand it when a boundary is being set.
The final few sentences took my breath away… Will there be more to this story?
An early read via NetGalley — feelings included.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"The world would likely have fared much better if women were seen as people, as equals, and not some prize to be gained or won."
— Avalon.
💚 Presumed dead FMC
💚 MMC with a hidden identity
💚 First person single POV
💚 Medieval setting
💚 Murder investigation
💚 Childhood friends
💚 STANDALONE!
Have you ever read a book so amazing you assume the author must be a regular at their local library, living on caffeine, hoarding books like a dragon hoards gold, casually writing their fifth masterpiece while ignoring their neighbors? 🤨 And then ✨surprise ✨ it turns out the book in your hand or, well, your phone is their debut??? So unbelievably good that you actually feel guilty for getting it as a free ARC, because this book absolutely deserves your money!!
The Ghost of Avalon by Casey P. St John is THAT book.
It’s genuinely hard to believe this is her debut novel. A debut had no business being this great—plot, characterization, language all of it. I loved The Ghost of Avalon from the cover, every single word, all the way to the about the author page, even when it tackled one trope I’m not usually a fan of (which I won’t name for spoiler reasons hehehehe 😏).
Avalon checks every box I love in an FMC: she’s smart, she takes no nonsense from anyone, she respects herself enough not to choose the wrong man, and most importantly she kills rapists as a side gig. Absolute icon behavior 😎
And don’t worry, Avalon isn’t your typical romantasy FMC who hates every other woman for the MMC’s attention. She befriends Wren, her childhood friend, who does nothing but support and care for her. Honestly, their sisterhood goes so hard they nearly die together 💀
"I had promised Wren, and though I had told many lies in my life, I did not intend to leave her caught in another."
Their relationship is written so beautifully that the only thing that could possibly improve it is making it sapphic.
But that’s just my gay ass speaking 😔
Avalon’s love interest ended up being one of my favorite plot twists in the book. He was hiding in plain sight. Just when you think, "oooooh, of course she’ll end up with this guy", the real one waves like, “Hi?? I’ve been here the whole time 😬"
I would love him more if he's more golden retriever type, bbut he’s nice enough tho 👌 Protective without suffocating. He doesn’t try to dim her fire. And even though he falls first, he doesn’t blindly worship her or justify everything she does. He communicates. He asks questions, something the other guy couldn’t be bothered to do.
"Have you adjusted? Will you take orders from a woman?"
He dropped his hands with a thud against his sides. "That is not so different than what I do now, is it?"
There’s no cheesy love triangle here. Avalon had already made up her mind before she realized her feelings for the second dude. And while the first love interest might stir debate especially among fans of dark romance and possessive men with anger issues who think "leave me alone" is just a challenge, Avalon basically gives him the middle finger. With bonus humiliation. Publicly.
I didn't hate him actually, but he and Avalon is just not a good match, so for everyone who wants the girl to choose the nice guy: we won 🥰
Ladies, get yourself a man like *bleep*.
Another thing I loved is how fast the plot moves. There’s no info dumping, despite how much is revealed about Avalon’s past. The mystery builds steadily, chapter by chapter, keeping you hooked and probably, like me, losing sleep because you HAVE to know what happens next to this deadly, brilliant, sexy Baroness.
While no specific year is mentioned, the setting is clearly medieval. Fair warning: this is NOT fantasy. I genuinely don’t know why NetGalley slapped a fantasy/sci-fi label on this, because it’s about ordinary humans and their ugliest sides aka greed, hatred, betrayal, and an era where people would rather believe the earth was flat, drink sewer water, or die of the plague twice than accept that women have rights 🙄 Oh no, what a nightmare! 😱 (Read it in Toph's voice)
Feminism shows up as a surprise guest. I expected the story to focus solely on the murder investigation, but the two intertwine beautifully. Like newlyweds on their honeymoon. Oddly romantic. The murders (and attempts, ooopsie) all stem from fear of change, and the author handles this so smoothly it never feels forced. St John doesn’t climv onto a rooftop screaming "LOOK! WOMEN WERE OPPRESSED! FEEL BAD NOW!"
Instead, she simply shows what has always existed, weaves it into a compelling mystery, and lets her characters fight tradition without making them look foolish or dragging the process out forever.
The funniest part is I got this book while I was still learning how to use NetGalley (that app is confusing as hell 😒). I’d seen the author promote it on Facebook but didn’t request the ARC because she mentioned it had only a little romance and uhhhj I was craving romance at the time hahaha. Then I accidentally clicked the "read now" button as an experiment, thinking every book needed to be requested first 😭 I remember being mildly annoyed because now I had to read it. The rest is history. It was a fantastic accident 😍
Huge thanks to Casey P. St John for the eARC and for writing women like Avalon.
— Avalon.
💚 Presumed dead FMC
💚 MMC with a hidden identity
💚 First person single POV
💚 Medieval setting
💚 Murder investigation
💚 Childhood friends
💚 STANDALONE!
Have you ever read a book so amazing you assume the author must be a regular at their local library, living on caffeine, hoarding books like a dragon hoards gold, casually writing their fifth masterpiece while ignoring their neighbors? 🤨 And then ✨surprise ✨ it turns out the book in your hand or, well, your phone is their debut??? So unbelievably good that you actually feel guilty for getting it as a free ARC, because this book absolutely deserves your money!!
The Ghost of Avalon by Casey P. St John is THAT book.
It’s genuinely hard to believe this is her debut novel. A debut had no business being this great—plot, characterization, language all of it. I loved The Ghost of Avalon from the cover, every single word, all the way to the about the author page, even when it tackled one trope I’m not usually a fan of (which I won’t name for spoiler reasons hehehehe 😏).
Avalon checks every box I love in an FMC: she’s smart, she takes no nonsense from anyone, she respects herself enough not to choose the wrong man, and most importantly she kills rapists as a side gig. Absolute icon behavior 😎
And don’t worry, Avalon isn’t your typical romantasy FMC who hates every other woman for the MMC’s attention. She befriends Wren, her childhood friend, who does nothing but support and care for her. Honestly, their sisterhood goes so hard they nearly die together 💀
"I had promised Wren, and though I had told many lies in my life, I did not intend to leave her caught in another."
Their relationship is written so beautifully that the only thing that could possibly improve it is making it sapphic.
But that’s just my gay ass speaking 😔
Avalon’s love interest ended up being one of my favorite plot twists in the book. He was hiding in plain sight. Just when you think, "oooooh, of course she’ll end up with this guy", the real one waves like, “Hi?? I’ve been here the whole time 😬"
I would love him more if he's more golden retriever type, bbut he’s nice enough tho 👌 Protective without suffocating. He doesn’t try to dim her fire. And even though he falls first, he doesn’t blindly worship her or justify everything she does. He communicates. He asks questions, something the other guy couldn’t be bothered to do.
"Have you adjusted? Will you take orders from a woman?"
He dropped his hands with a thud against his sides. "That is not so different than what I do now, is it?"
There’s no cheesy love triangle here. Avalon had already made up her mind before she realized her feelings for the second dude. And while the first love interest might stir debate especially among fans of dark romance and possessive men with anger issues who think "leave me alone" is just a challenge, Avalon basically gives him the middle finger. With bonus humiliation. Publicly.
I didn't hate him actually, but he and Avalon is just not a good match, so for everyone who wants the girl to choose the nice guy: we won 🥰
Ladies, get yourself a man like *bleep*.
Another thing I loved is how fast the plot moves. There’s no info dumping, despite how much is revealed about Avalon’s past. The mystery builds steadily, chapter by chapter, keeping you hooked and probably, like me, losing sleep because you HAVE to know what happens next to this deadly, brilliant, sexy Baroness.
While no specific year is mentioned, the setting is clearly medieval. Fair warning: this is NOT fantasy. I genuinely don’t know why NetGalley slapped a fantasy/sci-fi label on this, because it’s about ordinary humans and their ugliest sides aka greed, hatred, betrayal, and an era where people would rather believe the earth was flat, drink sewer water, or die of the plague twice than accept that women have rights 🙄 Oh no, what a nightmare! 😱 (Read it in Toph's voice)
Feminism shows up as a surprise guest. I expected the story to focus solely on the murder investigation, but the two intertwine beautifully. Like newlyweds on their honeymoon. Oddly romantic. The murders (and attempts, ooopsie) all stem from fear of change, and the author handles this so smoothly it never feels forced. St John doesn’t climv onto a rooftop screaming "LOOK! WOMEN WERE OPPRESSED! FEEL BAD NOW!"
Instead, she simply shows what has always existed, weaves it into a compelling mystery, and lets her characters fight tradition without making them look foolish or dragging the process out forever.
The funniest part is I got this book while I was still learning how to use NetGalley (that app is confusing as hell 😒). I’d seen the author promote it on Facebook but didn’t request the ARC because she mentioned it had only a little romance and uhhhj I was craving romance at the time hahaha. Then I accidentally clicked the "read now" button as an experiment, thinking every book needed to be requested first 😭 I remember being mildly annoyed because now I had to read it. The rest is history. It was a fantastic accident 😍
Huge thanks to Casey P. St John for the eARC and for writing women like Avalon.
January 6, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
The Ghost of Avalon was an incredibly engaging medieval murder mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish. Set in a medieval world the story follows Avalon, a vigilante FMC, as she investigates her parents murder from the past, only to uncover its connection to a series of present day attacks within the castle directed at the Royal family. An MMC with a concealed identity tied to Avalon’s past becomes a key part of the investigation, deepening both the mystery and the character dynamics.
The pacing was fast and gripping, making it a perfect shorter read that never felt rushed or dull. Told in first person, single POV, the mystery unfolds smoothly, keeping the tension high right up until the final page. The ending was the perfect conclusion to this standalone story, tying everything together in a satisfying way.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy fast paced medieval murder mysteries with a vigilante female lead, intriguing character dynamics without the commitment of starting another series. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, all opinions are my own!
The Ghost of Avalon was an incredibly engaging medieval murder mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish. Set in a medieval world the story follows Avalon, a vigilante FMC, as she investigates her parents murder from the past, only to uncover its connection to a series of present day attacks within the castle directed at the Royal family. An MMC with a concealed identity tied to Avalon’s past becomes a key part of the investigation, deepening both the mystery and the character dynamics.
The pacing was fast and gripping, making it a perfect shorter read that never felt rushed or dull. Told in first person, single POV, the mystery unfolds smoothly, keeping the tension high right up until the final page. The ending was the perfect conclusion to this standalone story, tying everything together in a satisfying way.
I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy fast paced medieval murder mysteries with a vigilante female lead, intriguing character dynamics without the commitment of starting another series. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Reader Copy of this book, all opinions are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley
I did not know I needed a mystery book set a fictional middle ages world, with lots of trauma and a little bit of romance. Even reading that description makes me cringe my nose, a second guess myself. But the book was brilliant and I absolutely loved it.
I could not find a single thing I disliked. I absolutely love the FMC, how you can see her strength always, even when she herself thinks she is showing weakness. Those parts in reality really show how incredibly strong she is.
I loved the banter in this book, and together with heartfelt moments, made this an easy read despite the heavy traumatic episode featured in the book.
I loved the setting, that medieval world where women strive to be seen as something else as just a price to be won. The politics and intrigue happening and the behalf of some people trying to give women power, and others trying to oppose it. It was in addition used in a clever way to influence the mystery.
I will also thank Netgalley for giving me an advanced readers copy, to read an review before release.
I did not know I needed a mystery book set a fictional middle ages world, with lots of trauma and a little bit of romance. Even reading that description makes me cringe my nose, a second guess myself. But the book was brilliant and I absolutely loved it.
I could not find a single thing I disliked. I absolutely love the FMC, how you can see her strength always, even when she herself thinks she is showing weakness. Those parts in reality really show how incredibly strong she is.
I loved the banter in this book, and together with heartfelt moments, made this an easy read despite the heavy traumatic episode featured in the book.
I loved the setting, that medieval world where women strive to be seen as something else as just a price to be won. The politics and intrigue happening and the behalf of some people trying to give women power, and others trying to oppose it. It was in addition used in a clever way to influence the mystery.
I will also thank Netgalley for giving me an advanced readers copy, to read an review before release.
December 30, 2025
The Ghost of Avalon by @caseystjohn.books 🗡️✨
I didn’t know I needed a medieval murder mystery until I picked this up! Imagine a total vigilante FMC who is independent, unforgiving, and supposedly dead. She risks everything to protect the king who “doesn’t” even know she’s alive.
The world-building is so vivid you can feel the castle stones, yet it’s super easy to follow. There are no complex magic systems here, just high stakes, emotional chaos, and a plot that kept me reading for more.
Plus, it’s a standalone, so there are no cliffhangers to stress over! The ending was the perfect “sweet wrap-up” to a wild ride.
🗓️ Releases NEXT MONTH! Do your future self a favor and pre-order this one today.
I didn’t know I needed a medieval murder mystery until I picked this up! Imagine a total vigilante FMC who is independent, unforgiving, and supposedly dead. She risks everything to protect the king who “doesn’t” even know she’s alive.
The world-building is so vivid you can feel the castle stones, yet it’s super easy to follow. There are no complex magic systems here, just high stakes, emotional chaos, and a plot that kept me reading for more.
Plus, it’s a standalone, so there are no cliffhangers to stress over! The ending was the perfect “sweet wrap-up” to a wild ride.
🗓️ Releases NEXT MONTH! Do your future self a favor and pre-order this one today.
December 8, 2025
I really enjoyed this as a historical murder mystery novel, it had that element that I was looking for and thought the suspenseful atmosphere worked well overall. The concept worked in this genre and was invested in what was happening. The characters were so well written and was glad that they worked well in this universe. Casey P. StJohn has a strong writing style and enjoyed the use of the Medieval element and from the characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 20, 2025
Wow!! I LOVED this book. It gripped me from the moment I started. I enjoyed the world the story built. It was fun to read a medieval setting. I stayed up way later than I should have every night to read “just one more chapter”. The ending surprised me - I did not see it coming! I can’t believe this is Casey’s first book. She is so talented and I hope to read more by her in the future!!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 20, 2026
I loved this book! It kept me on my toes and just when I thought I knew what was happening, I was sent in different direction. The author did a great job at evoking strong feelings for the heroes and the villains of this story. I enjoyed the mystery and suspense, as well as Avalon’s spunky attitude.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
January 17, 2026DNF at 30%
Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sorry it wasn't a better one!
"Avalon was killed five years ago. Though her body survived, she was left scarred and changed, living in the shadows. Hidden from her past, she hunts those who prey on the weak, using their bloodstained coin to keep a struggling orphanage alive."
This was marketed as a medieval murder mystery, but I got a quarter way through the book having seen no mention of this, before giving up.
At the beginning, we're introduced to Avalon, playing with a small girl that I assumed was her child. We learn that Avalon is quite tragic and twisted, actually, before she leaves to go play Robin Hood by murdering evil men to steal their money. Okay, cool.
When one of her marks is revealed to be in possession of a note threatening the royal family, Avalon decides, selflessly, painfully to go and assist.
The main characterCelaena Avalon irritated me in an "I'm so powerful and witty" way. I found her voice to be whiny, and the plot was hidden behind her annoyingly vague commentary. It felt like facebook vagueposting from 2007 and was maddening rather than intriguing.
There's over-dramatic talk of a tragic event, a life-altering scar, and a very "if only they knew how special and powerful I actually am" attitude. It was definitely more telling than showing, but it's somehow written without actually saying anything.
This story had some good bones, but unfortunately it was full of clunky, overworked sentences that tripped up my brain. I found it impossible to concentrate when confronted with sentences like these:
"He had always been a fair king; he just had an underdeveloped sense of character in regards to those he put in charge. He tended to see the best in people, and they tended to hire out the cheapest men with the lowest morals, and the good ones that did exist lacked the correct method to convince them to turn their lives around"
"some might call it stealing, which wouldn't be any worse than the murder I'd overheard some accuse me of to my face, without knowing it was my face that had committed the act they thought so treacherous"
" a half-burned candle flickered on a table near the far wall; even the smallest flame could not be extinguished by the darkness in my bones"
"an iron barrier never intended for the dead to come back to life, let alone plant it's feet on the other side"
Excuse me, a GATE never intended for the dead to come back?? why WOULD a gate ever intend for the dead to rise? Also, if the dead rose in this book, it wasn't in the first 30%
I feel bad that I hate this. The writing was clearly meant to come across as emotional and provocative, but instead was pure word salad. Despite the lengthy purple prose, there's very little continuity or description of anything actually HAPPENING. Things and people apparate around, while room layouts are described in excruciating detail.
I identified the love interest within three seconds, and disliked the dynamic immediately. After their first meeting, he's already broken into her room to deliver clothes and snoop around while she's sleeping, and had an awkward "seeing her naked" encounter. Hard pass.
It's also around this time that I re-read the book description and realized that she's not a mother; She lives at an orphanage and provides for the children. I may have missed it, but I don't think this was explicitly stated or implied.
As I said before, there's some good bones here. I thought the premise was interesting, there were elements of good world-building. St John has clearly thought about the story she wants to tell, and has decent sense of how to move the plot forward.
It's St John's debut, and I can feel the enthusiasm, and I see the vision. I believe that with some editing, and constructive feedback, this could be amazing.
Until then, it's a pass from me.
I leave you with a few more of these that I couldn't quite squeeze in:
"very little had changed within the drastic confines of the unruly course my life had taken" ... what???
"I would very much like to get some manner of sleep tonight, as I would think the rest of you would be so inclined to desire as well, seeing as how it is well after midnight"
Thank you to NetGalley who provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sorry it wasn't a better one!
"Avalon was killed five years ago. Though her body survived, she was left scarred and changed, living in the shadows. Hidden from her past, she hunts those who prey on the weak, using their bloodstained coin to keep a struggling orphanage alive."
This was marketed as a medieval murder mystery, but I got a quarter way through the book having seen no mention of this, before giving up.
At the beginning, we're introduced to Avalon, playing with a small girl that I assumed was her child. We learn that Avalon is quite tragic and twisted, actually, before she leaves to go play Robin Hood by murdering evil men to steal their money. Okay, cool.
When one of her marks is revealed to be in possession of a note threatening the royal family, Avalon decides, selflessly, painfully to go and assist.
The main character
There's over-dramatic talk of a tragic event, a life-altering scar, and a very "if only they knew how special and powerful I actually am" attitude. It was definitely more telling than showing, but it's somehow written without actually saying anything.
This story had some good bones, but unfortunately it was full of clunky, overworked sentences that tripped up my brain. I found it impossible to concentrate when confronted with sentences like these:
"He had always been a fair king; he just had an underdeveloped sense of character in regards to those he put in charge. He tended to see the best in people, and they tended to hire out the cheapest men with the lowest morals, and the good ones that did exist lacked the correct method to convince them to turn their lives around"
"some might call it stealing, which wouldn't be any worse than the murder I'd overheard some accuse me of to my face, without knowing it was my face that had committed the act they thought so treacherous"
" a half-burned candle flickered on a table near the far wall; even the smallest flame could not be extinguished by the darkness in my bones"
"an iron barrier never intended for the dead to come back to life, let alone plant it's feet on the other side"
Excuse me, a GATE never intended for the dead to come back?? why WOULD a gate ever intend for the dead to rise? Also, if the dead rose in this book, it wasn't in the first 30%
I feel bad that I hate this. The writing was clearly meant to come across as emotional and provocative, but instead was pure word salad. Despite the lengthy purple prose, there's very little continuity or description of anything actually HAPPENING. Things and people apparate around, while room layouts are described in excruciating detail.
I identified the love interest within three seconds, and disliked the dynamic immediately. After their first meeting, he's already broken into her room to deliver clothes and snoop around while she's sleeping, and had an awkward "seeing her naked" encounter. Hard pass.
It's also around this time that I re-read the book description and realized that she's not a mother; She lives at an orphanage and provides for the children. I may have missed it, but I don't think this was explicitly stated or implied.
As I said before, there's some good bones here. I thought the premise was interesting, there were elements of good world-building. St John has clearly thought about the story she wants to tell, and has decent sense of how to move the plot forward.
It's St John's debut, and I can feel the enthusiasm, and I see the vision. I believe that with some editing, and constructive feedback, this could be amazing.
Until then, it's a pass from me.
I leave you with a few more of these that I couldn't quite squeeze in:
"very little had changed within the drastic confines of the unruly course my life had taken" ... what???
"I would very much like to get some manner of sleep tonight, as I would think the rest of you would be so inclined to desire as well, seeing as how it is well after midnight"
February 19, 2026
If you are looking for a fantasty/murder mystery THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!
The writing and prose of this book is BEAUTIFUL! I compare it to reading Shakespeare or listening to Taylor Swift. The nuance in Casey's sentences is a gift. I was so excited to read this book and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Not to mention the actual copy of the book is gorgeous. The chapter pages are decadent and eye-catching.
The world building is soooo easy to swallow. At 253 pages it's a fun-size read in a world where all the new releases seem to be 500+ pages.
Do yourself a favor and leap into these pages! Head to Medrawd and meet the royal family. And run with Avalon as she tries to save their lives before it is too late!
Casey P StJohn WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MEEEEEE
Look below for favorite quotes. SPOILERS AHEAD!*************
Ex from Taylor Swift: I pay the check before it kisses the mahogany grain. Translation: I grab the check to pay it before the waiter can set it on the table so no one can pay before I do.
This is the literary criticism that I live for! As an English major in college I spent days interpreting lines from various literary works and I haven't had to exercise that muscle in a while! Other quotes just made me laugh or caught my eye!
Page 35: If I were to be tried, my neck would surely be relieved of the weight my head demanded it carry.
Page 45: Purple chrysanthemums and peach verbena, my mother's favorites, filled every table along the left wall and a myriad of roses adorned each one on the right, every flower trimmed from the queen's private gardens.
Page 67: Infection was less catching and more treatable than emotion.
Page 80: The weight of a hundred eyes threatened to hold me down.
Page 132: Iron bars coated in the grime of unimportance stretched from floor to ceiling...
Page 178: We had a black destrier with a crinkled black mane gone gray at the tips.
Page 182: Short, sleek palfreys trotted around a corral waiting to be bought, stomping their hooves, their manes billowing in the steady breeze washing over the open fields.
Page 197: Without thought or reason that I would admit, my palm slid down from his hair, resting on his sun-warmed cheek, my thumb straying of its own mind to the same corner of his mouth that tried to smile for me.
Page 251: The consensus from the children was to mock gag and giggle as Ellis pecked my cheeks with lips I had not tired of in three years.
The writing and prose of this book is BEAUTIFUL! I compare it to reading Shakespeare or listening to Taylor Swift. The nuance in Casey's sentences is a gift. I was so excited to read this book and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Not to mention the actual copy of the book is gorgeous. The chapter pages are decadent and eye-catching.
The world building is soooo easy to swallow. At 253 pages it's a fun-size read in a world where all the new releases seem to be 500+ pages.
Do yourself a favor and leap into these pages! Head to Medrawd and meet the royal family. And run with Avalon as she tries to save their lives before it is too late!
Casey P StJohn WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO MEEEEEE
Look below for favorite quotes. SPOILERS AHEAD!*************
Ex from Taylor Swift: I pay the check before it kisses the mahogany grain. Translation: I grab the check to pay it before the waiter can set it on the table so no one can pay before I do.
This is the literary criticism that I live for! As an English major in college I spent days interpreting lines from various literary works and I haven't had to exercise that muscle in a while! Other quotes just made me laugh or caught my eye!
Page 35: If I were to be tried, my neck would surely be relieved of the weight my head demanded it carry.
Page 45: Purple chrysanthemums and peach verbena, my mother's favorites, filled every table along the left wall and a myriad of roses adorned each one on the right, every flower trimmed from the queen's private gardens.
Page 67: Infection was less catching and more treatable than emotion.
Page 80: The weight of a hundred eyes threatened to hold me down.
Page 132: Iron bars coated in the grime of unimportance stretched from floor to ceiling...
Page 178: We had a black destrier with a crinkled black mane gone gray at the tips.
Page 182: Short, sleek palfreys trotted around a corral waiting to be bought, stomping their hooves, their manes billowing in the steady breeze washing over the open fields.
Page 197: Without thought or reason that I would admit, my palm slid down from his hair, resting on his sun-warmed cheek, my thumb straying of its own mind to the same corner of his mouth that tried to smile for me.
Page 251: The consensus from the children was to mock gag and giggle as Ellis pecked my cheeks with lips I had not tired of in three years.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a review I struggled to write. There are high threes and low threes, and The Ghost of Avalon falls on the higher end of that spectrum for me. I enjoyed it. The dialogue is lively, the characters are engaging, and the story moves at a comfortable pace. Flashbacks can be tricky—often pulling readers out of the narrative—but here they’re handled competently and didn’t disrupt my immersion. I had no trouble finishing the book, and it has several strengths working in its favor.
That said, a few elements held it back. There are logical leaps made in service of pacing that felt unearned: characters occasionally shift or seem to swap personalities; the defense of family comes across as perfunctory, explained away with a line or two rather than grounded in love or loyalty; and the protagonist spends a surprising amount of time shoved against walls or floors, yet forgives the rough handling with little reflection. The ending, in particular, relies more on narrative mechanics to gesture at the villain than on embedded clues that would allow the reader to deduce who did it—and why. I also noticed a handful of typos and a couple of odd word choices (“jilted” where “stilted” may have been intended).
The conclusion itself felt odd and somewhat disjointed, where a bit more narrative investment could have made it flow naturally. The final line is cryptic; I think I understand what Ms. StJohn intended, but I’m not certain—and that’s not a feeling I enjoy carrying out of a story.
Overall, this is a good read with real potential, but the story structure feels shaky as it stands. As a quick, fun read, I can recommend it. For readers looking for greater depth or cohesion, however, it may be worth approaching with measured expectations.
I was provided with an advance review copy through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
That said, a few elements held it back. There are logical leaps made in service of pacing that felt unearned: characters occasionally shift or seem to swap personalities; the defense of family comes across as perfunctory, explained away with a line or two rather than grounded in love or loyalty; and the protagonist spends a surprising amount of time shoved against walls or floors, yet forgives the rough handling with little reflection. The ending, in particular, relies more on narrative mechanics to gesture at the villain than on embedded clues that would allow the reader to deduce who did it—and why. I also noticed a handful of typos and a couple of odd word choices (“jilted” where “stilted” may have been intended).
The conclusion itself felt odd and somewhat disjointed, where a bit more narrative investment could have made it flow naturally. The final line is cryptic; I think I understand what Ms. StJohn intended, but I’m not certain—and that’s not a feeling I enjoy carrying out of a story.
Overall, this is a good read with real potential, but the story structure feels shaky as it stands. As a quick, fun read, I can recommend it. For readers looking for greater depth or cohesion, however, it may be worth approaching with measured expectations.
I was provided with an advance review copy through NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The synopsis of this book grabbed me immediately: Avalon, a young baroness thought to be dead by her friends and royal connections, has been murdering and robbing predatory and evil elites for the last five years. Her world is turned upside down, for what must be the umpteenth time, when she finds a note hinting that the royal family of the kingdom is in grave danger, and she must aid them in finding their would-be killer.
I was very excited to read a murder mystery set in the medieval era, and early in the read, I could see Casey has a serious appreciation for language. The descriptions of the settings were quite beautiful. And between the mysteries of the castle and political upheaval with Avalon's return, I felt I had a plethora of suspects at hand to dissect. I loved picking up clues of who the culprit was, what their motives were. Those were my favourite elements of the read.
With lovely prose and an intriguing premise, I still struggled to invest in the characters' individual stories. I don't believe that's necessarily the book's fault. I think I've, sadly, officially aged out of the YA genre. Avalon is a woman with an anguished, fiery spirit, but I found myself reading for the mystery to be solved and not necessarily because I wanted to learn about her. I thought the characters were interesting, and there are many faces to meet, but because I was somewhat indifferent to their personal tales, I leaned heavy into the mystery element of this story.
I would say the ideal audience for this story would be fans of the YA genre who are looking for a murder mystery with sprinklings of romance.
The synopsis of this book grabbed me immediately: Avalon, a young baroness thought to be dead by her friends and royal connections, has been murdering and robbing predatory and evil elites for the last five years. Her world is turned upside down, for what must be the umpteenth time, when she finds a note hinting that the royal family of the kingdom is in grave danger, and she must aid them in finding their would-be killer.
I was very excited to read a murder mystery set in the medieval era, and early in the read, I could see Casey has a serious appreciation for language. The descriptions of the settings were quite beautiful. And between the mysteries of the castle and political upheaval with Avalon's return, I felt I had a plethora of suspects at hand to dissect. I loved picking up clues of who the culprit was, what their motives were. Those were my favourite elements of the read.
With lovely prose and an intriguing premise, I still struggled to invest in the characters' individual stories. I don't believe that's necessarily the book's fault. I think I've, sadly, officially aged out of the YA genre. Avalon is a woman with an anguished, fiery spirit, but I found myself reading for the mystery to be solved and not necessarily because I wanted to learn about her. I thought the characters were interesting, and there are many faces to meet, but because I was somewhat indifferent to their personal tales, I leaned heavy into the mystery element of this story.
I would say the ideal audience for this story would be fans of the YA genre who are looking for a murder mystery with sprinklings of romance.
Review of advance copy
Thanks to Booksirens and the publisher for the ARC.
Avalon, daughter of the deceased Baron and Marshal to the King, was supposed to be dead. After barely escaping death, she leads a life in the shadows and hunting the men who prey on the weak and keeping their coin to keep the orphanage that is her shelter afloat. After discovering a note indicating a nearing assasination of the royal family, she returns to the castle she once lived and stays there upon the King's request to find out who the would-be assasin is. There she faces her past, the secrets surrounding her family's murder, and the choices she never thought she would make.
Overall, this was an enjoyable story if you can overlook certain points. For one, the story tends to focus on the romance subplot at times that makes the reader forget about the mystery. There were instances where things were rather hinted at than being revealed and the hints are not strong enough to point at the intended information, which requires a lot of attention to detail. The same cryptic message was used at the very ending of the book and sadly, what was being pointed at was not remotely clear and I'd rather not have that lingering "what was that about?" feeling at the end of a story.
The characters were decent, with Ellis being my favorite and I loved the banter between him and Avalon. The pacing of the book was decent and it helped keeping me hooked. The language used in the book was very befitting to a medieval setting and I appreciated that.
It can be great read for readers who enjoy medieval settings, political intrigue with romance subplot (which I quite enjoyed although it took the focus away from the mystery).
Avalon, daughter of the deceased Baron and Marshal to the King, was supposed to be dead. After barely escaping death, she leads a life in the shadows and hunting the men who prey on the weak and keeping their coin to keep the orphanage that is her shelter afloat. After discovering a note indicating a nearing assasination of the royal family, she returns to the castle she once lived and stays there upon the King's request to find out who the would-be assasin is. There she faces her past, the secrets surrounding her family's murder, and the choices she never thought she would make.
Overall, this was an enjoyable story if you can overlook certain points. For one, the story tends to focus on the romance subplot at times that makes the reader forget about the mystery. There were instances where things were rather hinted at than being revealed and the hints are not strong enough to point at the intended information, which requires a lot of attention to detail. The same cryptic message was used at the very ending of the book and sadly, what was being pointed at was not remotely clear and I'd rather not have that lingering "what was that about?" feeling at the end of a story.
The characters were decent, with Ellis being my favorite and I loved the banter between him and Avalon. The pacing of the book was decent and it helped keeping me hooked. The language used in the book was very befitting to a medieval setting and I appreciated that.
It can be great read for readers who enjoy medieval settings, political intrigue with romance subplot (which I quite enjoyed although it took the focus away from the mystery).
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Set in a medieval-inspired world, The Ghost of Avalon is a historical murder mystery with a dark, almost fairytale-like atmosphere. Avalon, our main character, was nearly murdered five years ago. Though she survived, her life effectively ended that night. She vanished from the world she once knew and lived in hiding at an orphanage, carrying both physical and emotional scars.
When Avalon stumbles upon a note threatening the royal family, she’s forced to return to the castle—the very place that has haunted her for the past five years. What follows is a tense, emotionally charged investigation that pulls her back into court politics, old titles, and dangers she never truly escaped.
I went into this book not knowing how much I would love it—and it completely surprised me.
This book is under 300 pages, making it incredibly fast-paced. I was hooked from the very first page and finished it within 24 hours. The mystery unfolds quickly without feeling rushed, and the atmosphere feels like a blend of fantasy and dark fairytale—moody, sharp, and haunting.
Avalon is an unforgiving, deeply compelling female protagonist, and I loved following her through a story full of secrets, shifting loyalties, and buried truths. If you enjoy morally complex characters and murder mysteries wrapped in a medieval setting, this book absolutely delivers.
If you’re a fan of T. Kingfisher, I think you’ll really enjoy this one as well.
Overall, I highly recommend The Ghost of Avalon to anyone looking for a gripping murder mystery—or for readers stuck in a reading slump who want something dark, immersive, and impossible to put down.
When Avalon stumbles upon a note threatening the royal family, she’s forced to return to the castle—the very place that has haunted her for the past five years. What follows is a tense, emotionally charged investigation that pulls her back into court politics, old titles, and dangers she never truly escaped.
I went into this book not knowing how much I would love it—and it completely surprised me.
This book is under 300 pages, making it incredibly fast-paced. I was hooked from the very first page and finished it within 24 hours. The mystery unfolds quickly without feeling rushed, and the atmosphere feels like a blend of fantasy and dark fairytale—moody, sharp, and haunting.
Avalon is an unforgiving, deeply compelling female protagonist, and I loved following her through a story full of secrets, shifting loyalties, and buried truths. If you enjoy morally complex characters and murder mysteries wrapped in a medieval setting, this book absolutely delivers.
If you’re a fan of T. Kingfisher, I think you’ll really enjoy this one as well.
Overall, I highly recommend The Ghost of Avalon to anyone looking for a gripping murder mystery—or for readers stuck in a reading slump who want something dark, immersive, and impossible to put down.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If I could rate this book 6 stars, I would. I ate this up in 3 days! I did not expect to love this as much as I did as an avid fantasy reader, but it blew my socks off! The story follows Avalon, a noble who is forced to leave her life at the castle following her parents death. She works together with the King (who absolutely adores her) to uncover an unknown perpetrator against the crown. Her love for Petra and the children at an orphanage are a central part of the story, alongside her trauma that has ultimately made her the person she is at present.
The pacing was perfect for me, I prefer a shorter chapter to keep me locked in (and wow, this did!). I was obsessed from Chapter 4. What a gorgeous story and depiction of grief. It gives period drama and murder mystery all in one, with some light romance and an unforgettable strong-willed FMC. Loved the assassin energy Avalon radiates, that along with her humour felt very Aelin-esque for me which I adored. The nameless/faceless guard storyline was everything in my opinion, so heartfelt. I felt like Casey's foreshadowing to future events in the books was brilliant, and loved those little easter eggs along the way.
In regards to the writing, the pacing was 10/10 for me. I did note some typo's along the way and words that didn't seem to fit as well as others might have, but that didn't bother me at all (and I would definitely make many more). Foreshadowing and twists were at the right times, and well written in my opinion. Absolutely loved the ending, audibly gasped at the part in Aldric's bedroom.
The pacing was perfect for me, I prefer a shorter chapter to keep me locked in (and wow, this did!). I was obsessed from Chapter 4. What a gorgeous story and depiction of grief. It gives period drama and murder mystery all in one, with some light romance and an unforgettable strong-willed FMC. Loved the assassin energy Avalon radiates, that along with her humour felt very Aelin-esque for me which I adored. The nameless/faceless guard storyline was everything in my opinion, so heartfelt. I felt like Casey's foreshadowing to future events in the books was brilliant, and loved those little easter eggs along the way.
In regards to the writing, the pacing was 10/10 for me. I did note some typo's along the way and words that didn't seem to fit as well as others might have, but that didn't bother me at all (and I would definitely make many more). Foreshadowing and twists were at the right times, and well written in my opinion. Absolutely loved the ending, audibly gasped at the part in Aldric's bedroom.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Avalon is a ghost. After a horrific incident in her past, she is no longer supposed to exist. The problem, of course, is that she does. When her kingdom is threatened, she is forced to return to a life that no longer suits her, and she has to free the secrets lying deep in her past to find a way forward.
The description here really hooked me, and I was super excited to dive in to this book. It is an interesting combination of "medieval" historical fiction, mystery, a little bit of light thriller, and a dash of romance. The interwoven mysteries here make a compelling story, but I found that the clues weren't quite as carefully concealed as they might have been. The romance isn't the sharpest I've ever read, but it does add a nice little layer of something extra. My main complaint is that the story felt a bit rushed, with many different threads weaving together to leave a few ragged edges. The ending is also rather ambiguous, and I would have preferred a bit more clarity (unless there's a sequel planned that I'm unaware of). That said, I think this was a lovely debut by a new author and would happily read more by them in the future!
This book does deal with very heavy topics, so, although they're handled well, do be aware if you're particularly sensitive. It's also billed as fantasy, but, with the exception of taking liberties with the clothing and a few other mores of the time, I personally wouldn't call this proper fantasy.
3.5/5 stars rounded down to 3. Thank you to netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The description here really hooked me, and I was super excited to dive in to this book. It is an interesting combination of "medieval" historical fiction, mystery, a little bit of light thriller, and a dash of romance. The interwoven mysteries here make a compelling story, but I found that the clues weren't quite as carefully concealed as they might have been. The romance isn't the sharpest I've ever read, but it does add a nice little layer of something extra. My main complaint is that the story felt a bit rushed, with many different threads weaving together to leave a few ragged edges. The ending is also rather ambiguous, and I would have preferred a bit more clarity (unless there's a sequel planned that I'm unaware of). That said, I think this was a lovely debut by a new author and would happily read more by them in the future!
This book does deal with very heavy topics, so, although they're handled well, do be aware if you're particularly sensitive. It's also billed as fantasy, but, with the exception of taking liberties with the clothing and a few other mores of the time, I personally wouldn't call this proper fantasy.
3.5/5 stars rounded down to 3. Thank you to netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Genre: Medieval Fantasy / Mystery / Political Intrigue
---
❤️ Personal Take
A scarred noblewoman believed to be dead. A castle full of enemies. A killer who never stopped hunting her.
Ghost of Avalon is a medieval mystery fantasy about survival, identity, and the danger of returning to the place and the past you ran from.
While the beginning had me unsure of its pacing and prose, I was happy to see that this story really found its stride in the later half of the book. What began as poetic and vague writing turned into much more emotional and resilient narration from Avalon, somewhat reminiscent of Celaena of ToG.
It did feel like a tone change once Avalon meets with the King, from dark and brooding to a thread of humor throughout the novel. It brought some colour to Avalon’s character that I enjoyed... but I did find the messy operations of the guards dampened the tension for this mystery.
The mixture of medieval setting and murder mystery was an intriguing spin, with jousts and armored knights woven in between botanical poisons, dark figures and hidden passageways.
---
🧩 Tropes
- ⚔️ Scarred heroine / survivor narrative
- 🕵️ Court murder mystery
- 👑 Reluctant return to nobility
- 🕯️ Political intrigue in a medieval castle
- 🩸 Vigilante justice
- 👻 “Ghost of who I used to be” identity arc
- 🎭 Masked / Helmeted MMC
- 🐺 Shadowy stalker / past trauma resurfacing
---
🧵 Summary
Five years ago, Avalon was declared dead. Her body survived, but she emerged scarred, changed, and determined to disappear. Living in the shadows, she hunts predators and funnels their blood‑stained coin into the orphanage that saved her.
But when she uncovers a note threatening the royal family, Avalon is forced back to the castle where she died. The king demands her help in unmasking a would be assassin, and her reinstated title of Baroness thrusts her into the center of court politics she never wanted to face again.
Not everyone is pleased she’s alive. And the shadow that once hunted her is closer than ever.
To expose the killer, Avalon must confront the past she buried, and the ghost she has become.
---
🎭 Themes
- Identity after trauma - Avalon’s death reshaped her, and the book explores what it means to reclaim a life you no longer fit.
- Justice vs. vengeance - her vigilante work blurs moral lines.
- Power and politics - returning to nobility forces her into dangerous alliances.
- Found family - the orphanage gives her purpose and grounding.
- Secrets and survival - the castle is a maze of lies, and Avalon is both hunter and hunted.
---
🧭 Recommendation
Perfect for readers who love:
- medieval fantasy mixed with mystery
- scarred heroines reclaiming their power
- court intrigue with emotional depth
Content warnings: violence, trauma, stalking, attempted murder.
---
❤️ Personal Take
A scarred noblewoman believed to be dead. A castle full of enemies. A killer who never stopped hunting her.
Ghost of Avalon is a medieval mystery fantasy about survival, identity, and the danger of returning to the place and the past you ran from.
While the beginning had me unsure of its pacing and prose, I was happy to see that this story really found its stride in the later half of the book. What began as poetic and vague writing turned into much more emotional and resilient narration from Avalon, somewhat reminiscent of Celaena of ToG.
It did feel like a tone change once Avalon meets with the King, from dark and brooding to a thread of humor throughout the novel. It brought some colour to Avalon’s character that I enjoyed... but I did find the messy operations of the guards dampened the tension for this mystery.
The mixture of medieval setting and murder mystery was an intriguing spin, with jousts and armored knights woven in between botanical poisons, dark figures and hidden passageways.
---
🧩 Tropes
- ⚔️ Scarred heroine / survivor narrative
- 🕵️ Court murder mystery
- 👑 Reluctant return to nobility
- 🕯️ Political intrigue in a medieval castle
- 🩸 Vigilante justice
- 👻 “Ghost of who I used to be” identity arc
- 🎭 Masked / Helmeted MMC
- 🐺 Shadowy stalker / past trauma resurfacing
---
🧵 Summary
Five years ago, Avalon was declared dead. Her body survived, but she emerged scarred, changed, and determined to disappear. Living in the shadows, she hunts predators and funnels their blood‑stained coin into the orphanage that saved her.
But when she uncovers a note threatening the royal family, Avalon is forced back to the castle where she died. The king demands her help in unmasking a would be assassin, and her reinstated title of Baroness thrusts her into the center of court politics she never wanted to face again.
Not everyone is pleased she’s alive. And the shadow that once hunted her is closer than ever.
To expose the killer, Avalon must confront the past she buried, and the ghost she has become.
---
🎭 Themes
- Identity after trauma - Avalon’s death reshaped her, and the book explores what it means to reclaim a life you no longer fit.
- Justice vs. vengeance - her vigilante work blurs moral lines.
- Power and politics - returning to nobility forces her into dangerous alliances.
- Found family - the orphanage gives her purpose and grounding.
- Secrets and survival - the castle is a maze of lies, and Avalon is both hunter and hunted.
---
🧭 Recommendation
Perfect for readers who love:
- medieval fantasy mixed with mystery
- scarred heroines reclaiming their power
- court intrigue with emotional depth
Content warnings: violence, trauma, stalking, attempted murder.
February 23, 2026
blending murder mystery with a medieval backdrop effortlessly, tackling heavier themes without sinking so far into despair that you lose sight of resilience and possibility. there’s darkness here, but it’s measured and it never forgets the humanity at its core. 🎀
our fmc is exactly the kind i gravitate toward. resilient, sharp, and sarcastic, with a loyalty that sometimes borders on self sacrificial. watching her journey from naive aristocrat to a girl declared ‘dead’ and forced into hiding was compelling in all the right ways. when she circles back to the world she once knew, stripped of illusion and comfort, her arc feels earned. layered. honest. just good writing. plus there’s a good lashing of enjoyable, justified revenge. ✨
i did pick up on a few narrative threads before their full reveal, but that didn’t dampen the enjoyment. the unfolding still felt intentional rather than forcefully manipulative.
🗡️ medieval intrigue with a strong mystery spine
🕯️ dark themes handled with restraint and heart
👑 a smart, loyal fmc whose arc genuinely lands
🩸 refreshing in a sea of girl-turned-assassin tales that forget their characters are human
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up.
a super enjoyable, well crafted read that proves you don’t need to push strong female characters past realistic limitations to make them powerful.
((note - most criticisms in reviews seem to come from a misreading of the blurb (which admittedly could be rewritten). this isn’t classic fantasy, and it isn’t meant to have romance front and centre so keep this in mind before picking her up. 🤍))
our fmc is exactly the kind i gravitate toward. resilient, sharp, and sarcastic, with a loyalty that sometimes borders on self sacrificial. watching her journey from naive aristocrat to a girl declared ‘dead’ and forced into hiding was compelling in all the right ways. when she circles back to the world she once knew, stripped of illusion and comfort, her arc feels earned. layered. honest. just good writing. plus there’s a good lashing of enjoyable, justified revenge. ✨
i did pick up on a few narrative threads before their full reveal, but that didn’t dampen the enjoyment. the unfolding still felt intentional rather than forcefully manipulative.
🗡️ medieval intrigue with a strong mystery spine
🕯️ dark themes handled with restraint and heart
👑 a smart, loyal fmc whose arc genuinely lands
🩸 refreshing in a sea of girl-turned-assassin tales that forget their characters are human
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 rounded up.
a super enjoyable, well crafted read that proves you don’t need to push strong female characters past realistic limitations to make them powerful.
((note - most criticisms in reviews seem to come from a misreading of the blurb (which admittedly could be rewritten). this isn’t classic fantasy, and it isn’t meant to have romance front and centre so keep this in mind before picking her up. 🤍))
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Are you kidding? Jousting, murder, mystery, revenge, poison, chases, escapes, true love…
Doesn't sound too bad. I'll try to stay awake. ;)
The Ghost of Avalon delivers with a fairytale, whodoneit that keeps you guessing until the end!
I was immediately intrigued by the description, is she a ghost? Is she undead? Is she something else entirely!? I needed to know.
While the actual execution of Avalon being a ghost was much more straight forward than all the possibilities I had conjured up in my mind and honestly I appreciated that. It didn’t overly complicate anything and in my opinion, added a little more depth / weight to her character as well as the story.
The authors style / voice are really interesting and unique and it worked more than it didn’t. A few times I had to stop, re-read and think through what was written - which kinda took me out of the story - but other times I’d stop to re-read, just because I enjoyed the phrasing or imagery so much.
It’s reminiscent of TK Kingfisher, I think, very real with a dash of humor while somehow seamlessly maintaining a darker kind of fairytale tone and building characters that are sure to live on in your heart.
I very much enjoyed The Ghost of Avalon, I think it’s for anyone who loves The Princess Bride and a good murder mystery!
Thank you NetGalley and Ringtale Publishing LLC for the ARC copy, I can’t wait to read what Casey P. StJohn comes up with next!
Doesn't sound too bad. I'll try to stay awake. ;)
The Ghost of Avalon delivers with a fairytale, whodoneit that keeps you guessing until the end!
I was immediately intrigued by the description, is she a ghost? Is she undead? Is she something else entirely!? I needed to know.
While the actual execution of Avalon being a ghost was much more straight forward than all the possibilities I had conjured up in my mind and honestly I appreciated that. It didn’t overly complicate anything and in my opinion, added a little more depth / weight to her character as well as the story.
The authors style / voice are really interesting and unique and it worked more than it didn’t. A few times I had to stop, re-read and think through what was written - which kinda took me out of the story - but other times I’d stop to re-read, just because I enjoyed the phrasing or imagery so much.
It’s reminiscent of TK Kingfisher, I think, very real with a dash of humor while somehow seamlessly maintaining a darker kind of fairytale tone and building characters that are sure to live on in your heart.
I very much enjoyed The Ghost of Avalon, I think it’s for anyone who loves The Princess Bride and a good murder mystery!
Thank you NetGalley and Ringtale Publishing LLC for the ARC copy, I can’t wait to read what Casey P. StJohn comes up with next!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was so good!🤩
👻I loved everything about it—the writing, the atmosphere, the mystery, and the characters all worked perfectly together. I’m honestly hesitant to give more details than the blurb, because the buildup and the reveals about Avalon and her past were a huge part of what made this story so satisfying. The way her backstory unfolds felt intentional and rewarding, and I really enjoyed how the author chose to tell it.
👑What I can say is that this book has a strong feminist core. There’s political intrigue centered around inheritance laws in the kingdom, where firstborn daughters should have the same rights as firstborn sons to inherit and this tension plays an important role in the story.
The short flashback chapters were concise but impactful, giving important details about the main characters and their relationships without slowing the pacing.
⚔️If I had one small complaint it would be the ending. I enjoyed it overall, but I just wish that the murderer would have been revealed and comprehended a bit differently, it was a bit rushed and quickly wrapped up. However, the epilogue was a great addition with a satisfying final twist!
That said, this was an easy five stars for me. I highly recommend! 💜
📖Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ringtale Publishing LLC for the advance reader copy. All thoughts are my own.
👻I loved everything about it—the writing, the atmosphere, the mystery, and the characters all worked perfectly together. I’m honestly hesitant to give more details than the blurb, because the buildup and the reveals about Avalon and her past were a huge part of what made this story so satisfying. The way her backstory unfolds felt intentional and rewarding, and I really enjoyed how the author chose to tell it.
👑What I can say is that this book has a strong feminist core. There’s political intrigue centered around inheritance laws in the kingdom, where firstborn daughters should have the same rights as firstborn sons to inherit and this tension plays an important role in the story.
The short flashback chapters were concise but impactful, giving important details about the main characters and their relationships without slowing the pacing.
⚔️If I had one small complaint it would be the ending. I enjoyed it overall, but I just wish that the murderer would have been revealed and comprehended a bit differently, it was a bit rushed and quickly wrapped up. However, the epilogue was a great addition with a satisfying final twist!
That said, this was an easy five stars for me. I highly recommend! 💜
📖Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ringtale Publishing LLC for the advance reader copy. All thoughts are my own.
February 3, 2026
Rating: 3.5 (rounded up)
**Thank you to IBPA and NETGALLEY for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
The Ghost of Avalon is a story of death, rebirth and systematic change. This book gave off regency, 1800's energy making class and status the sole focus of anyone's desires. With inheritance still very much a hot topic in society between men and first born daughters, no one is really safe.
The first half of the book had me in an unrelenting choke hold. Avalon has experienced unfathomable circumstances to get where she got and is now being asked to return to the place where her world shattered. I had so many questions about Avalon's journey that I desperately wanted answered. Why did she leave her life? What exactly happened to her family? Where did she fall in society before?
As my questions were being answered and the mystery continued to unfold, I never expected it to go in the direction that it went. But each chapter brought another piece of the puzzle out into the open. So much happened during the last half I started having a hard time keeping track of what was true and what wasn't. There were some beautiful full circle moments and some wild confessions. The last couple sentences had me frustrated. It seems like it may be open for interpretation on who makes an appearance.
**Thank you to IBPA and NETGALLEY for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**
The Ghost of Avalon is a story of death, rebirth and systematic change. This book gave off regency, 1800's energy making class and status the sole focus of anyone's desires. With inheritance still very much a hot topic in society between men and first born daughters, no one is really safe.
The first half of the book had me in an unrelenting choke hold. Avalon has experienced unfathomable circumstances to get where she got and is now being asked to return to the place where her world shattered. I had so many questions about Avalon's journey that I desperately wanted answered. Why did she leave her life? What exactly happened to her family? Where did she fall in society before?
As my questions were being answered and the mystery continued to unfold, I never expected it to go in the direction that it went. But each chapter brought another piece of the puzzle out into the open. So much happened during the last half I started having a hard time keeping track of what was true and what wasn't. There were some beautiful full circle moments and some wild confessions. The last couple sentences had me frustrated. It seems like it may be open for interpretation on who makes an appearance.
February 3, 2026
The Ghost of Avalon is a compelling blend of medieval mystery, political intrigue, and quiet resilience. The story follows Avalon, a woman presumed dead for years who now lives in the shadows as a vigilante, protecting the vulnerable while carrying the scars of her past. When a threat against the royal family emerges, she’s forced back into the world that left her broken—and into a mystery far more dangerous than she expected.
Avalon is a standout protagonist: hardened, intelligent, and deeply human. Her strength isn’t flashy, but earned, shaped by survival and loss. I really appreciated how her trauma is handled with weight and respect, influencing her choices without defining her entirely.
The mystery itself is well paced, with enough twists to keep the tension high and the stakes personal. The medieval setting feels grounded and immersive without becoming overly dense, and the political elements add a nice layer of complexity. There’s a touch of romance, but it never overshadows the central plot or Avalon’s journey.
Overall, The Ghost of Avalon is an engaging and satisfying read for fans of historical mysteries and strong female leads. A solid standalone with heart, grit, and intrigue—and I’d happily read more from this author.
Avalon is a standout protagonist: hardened, intelligent, and deeply human. Her strength isn’t flashy, but earned, shaped by survival and loss. I really appreciated how her trauma is handled with weight and respect, influencing her choices without defining her entirely.
The mystery itself is well paced, with enough twists to keep the tension high and the stakes personal. The medieval setting feels grounded and immersive without becoming overly dense, and the political elements add a nice layer of complexity. There’s a touch of romance, but it never overshadows the central plot or Avalon’s journey.
Overall, The Ghost of Avalon is an engaging and satisfying read for fans of historical mysteries and strong female leads. A solid standalone with heart, grit, and intrigue—and I’d happily read more from this author.
February 3, 2026
For a book with verbose descriptions, reading the first few chapters confused me. Early talk of hunts and lambs and wolves made me wonder if I’d accidentally picked up a book about a werewolf, rather than a ghost. I really felt like I had missed something, until eventually just settling into the world and life of Avalon.
The further into the book I got, I was more interested, but occasionally was still hung up on the distracting verbiage (shout out to “my tongue retreated into its cave” - could have gone without that one). I did eventually get to know and love Avalon as our main character, even if it took a while to get some of my questions about her answered.
I’d recommend this book, but include the caveat that you have to get through the beginning of it to really see that it’s worth the first ~25%. By the halfway mark I was fully sold, but i almost didn’t make it there. Rating this book is hard because of how differently I feel about that first portion, but my love for the latter two-thirds wins and I’d give it 4 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The further into the book I got, I was more interested, but occasionally was still hung up on the distracting verbiage (shout out to “my tongue retreated into its cave” - could have gone without that one). I did eventually get to know and love Avalon as our main character, even if it took a while to get some of my questions about her answered.
I’d recommend this book, but include the caveat that you have to get through the beginning of it to really see that it’s worth the first ~25%. By the halfway mark I was fully sold, but i almost didn’t make it there. Rating this book is hard because of how differently I feel about that first portion, but my love for the latter two-thirds wins and I’d give it 4 stars.
I received an advance review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
I. LOVE. THIS. STORY.
Casey P. StJohn's debut novel has got it all. Mystery. Murder. A low-Fantasy setting. Romance (closed door, which I prefer!). Characters that are perfectly imperfect and have you questioning their motives until the very end. An ending that will linger long after you've finished reading.
Plus, its a quick read. The world building is just enough to immerse you in Avalon's world without paragraphs of exposition slowing down the pace. The chapters are short and packed with action that leaves you wanting to read "just one more chapter" and before you know it you've finished the book!
I loved the characters, especially the MC and her romantic interest. I felt all the emotions while reading Avalon's story--happiness, sadness, grief, anger, confusion. This story has a lot of heart and I didn't want it to end but I also had to know how it would resolve.
If you're looking for your next read, you've found it. I can't wait to read more from Casey P. StJohn!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Casey P. StJohn's debut novel has got it all. Mystery. Murder. A low-Fantasy setting. Romance (closed door, which I prefer!). Characters that are perfectly imperfect and have you questioning their motives until the very end. An ending that will linger long after you've finished reading.
Plus, its a quick read. The world building is just enough to immerse you in Avalon's world without paragraphs of exposition slowing down the pace. The chapters are short and packed with action that leaves you wanting to read "just one more chapter" and before you know it you've finished the book!
I loved the characters, especially the MC and her romantic interest. I felt all the emotions while reading Avalon's story--happiness, sadness, grief, anger, confusion. This story has a lot of heart and I didn't want it to end but I also had to know how it would resolve.
If you're looking for your next read, you've found it. I can't wait to read more from Casey P. StJohn!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 16, 2026
A messy, spitfire heroine, an alluring masked knight, and a murder mystery that feels like a maze- THE GHOST OF AVALON will keep you guessing till the end.
This book was a very pleasant surprise. I don’t typically read medieval fantasy that’s not heavily rooted in some sort of magical element- I usually find them too stuffy and self-serious. Instead, this was a chaotic chase through a Shakespearean set, a murder mystery set in Merida’s castle but with no bears and far more blood.
I love Avalon as a protagonist; she is unapologetically damaged, clever, sardonic, and very shoot (stab?) first, ask questions later. The story is just the right amount of dark, the pages stacked with multiple murder attempts, shifting suspects (and targets), and deliciously murky motives.
THE GHOST OF AVALON is a fun and thrilling romp that legitimately had me stumped on how it would end. Highly recommend, even for for my magic-only fantasy readers. A great read!
This book was a very pleasant surprise. I don’t typically read medieval fantasy that’s not heavily rooted in some sort of magical element- I usually find them too stuffy and self-serious. Instead, this was a chaotic chase through a Shakespearean set, a murder mystery set in Merida’s castle but with no bears and far more blood.
I love Avalon as a protagonist; she is unapologetically damaged, clever, sardonic, and very shoot (stab?) first, ask questions later. The story is just the right amount of dark, the pages stacked with multiple murder attempts, shifting suspects (and targets), and deliciously murky motives.
THE GHOST OF AVALON is a fun and thrilling romp that legitimately had me stumped on how it would end. Highly recommend, even for for my magic-only fantasy readers. A great read!
January 19, 2026
I LOVE this book.
First I want to say — this has nothing to do with King Arthur just so you aren't confused €
It was set in a medieval world, but the main plot was mystery with a strong romantic subplot.
There was a love triangle, which I'm not usually fond of, but I actually liked it in this book.
It had a lot of the elements I liked about the cruel prince, but it was better in my opinion. (No fae, just the morally grey female lead, and similar themes and characters)
One of the main male characters is mysterious, we don't know who he is for 20 chapters and I absolutely loved that!
This book keeps you guessing and gives you all of the feels, it was funny, sad, romantic, suspenseful, it made me mad, happy, nervous.
Definitely a favorite read.
Full review & content warnings https://www.instagram.com/p/DTrZiEEDc...
First I want to say — this has nothing to do with King Arthur just so you aren't confused €
It was set in a medieval world, but the main plot was mystery with a strong romantic subplot.
There was a love triangle, which I'm not usually fond of, but I actually liked it in this book.
It had a lot of the elements I liked about the cruel prince, but it was better in my opinion. (No fae, just the morally grey female lead, and similar themes and characters)
One of the main male characters is mysterious, we don't know who he is for 20 chapters and I absolutely loved that!
This book keeps you guessing and gives you all of the feels, it was funny, sad, romantic, suspenseful, it made me mad, happy, nervous.
Definitely a favorite read.
Full review & content warnings https://www.instagram.com/p/DTrZiEEDc...
January 31, 2026
This is a NetGalley eARC review
2.5 stars.
I wanted to support a debut author. I really did. But I couldn’t come to like this book. The book was categorized as Sci-Fi/Fantasy on NetGalley and the cover art suggested that too, so I was expecting a medieval fantasy mystery thriller, and it wasn’t that. There was no Sci-Fi/Fantasy at all. It’s just a mystery novel that didn’t need any of the bells of whistles it had. I spent more than half of this book wondering if Avalon was a real ghost. In the beginning of the book, I felt like it was suggested Avalon has become some supernatural being when she killed the noble, but no, she’s just been hiding her identity all this time. There were no element of surprise. The unveiling of the assassin wasn’t unexpected, nor were the motives. The author wrote in a very mysterious tone but the storyline just wasn’t unique enough to hold it up.
2.5 stars.
I wanted to support a debut author. I really did. But I couldn’t come to like this book. The book was categorized as Sci-Fi/Fantasy on NetGalley and the cover art suggested that too, so I was expecting a medieval fantasy mystery thriller, and it wasn’t that. There was no Sci-Fi/Fantasy at all. It’s just a mystery novel that didn’t need any of the bells of whistles it had. I spent more than half of this book wondering if Avalon was a real ghost. In the beginning of the book, I felt like it was suggested Avalon has become some supernatural being when she killed the noble, but no, she’s just been hiding her identity all this time. There were no element of surprise. The unveiling of the assassin wasn’t unexpected, nor were the motives. The author wrote in a very mysterious tone but the storyline just wasn’t unique enough to hold it up.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I came way from this book with mixed feelings. The premise and synopsis had me excited to jump in, and the haunting set up pulled me in right way. The Ghost of Avalon opens with an interesting concept that immediately grabbed my attention. The author weaves together mystery, and a touch of supernatural which I enjoyed. The island itself is eerie and full of secrets, which was the books strongest element. I also appreciated the way the story connected past and present.
However, the pacing felt uneven, and some of the characters didn't feel as fully developed as I hoped. In the end, while the premise was engaging and had a lot of promise, the execution didn't quote reach the potential it set up.
Thank you NetGalley and Ringtale Publishing LLC for the ARC.
However, the pacing felt uneven, and some of the characters didn't feel as fully developed as I hoped. In the end, while the premise was engaging and had a lot of promise, the execution didn't quote reach the potential it set up.
Thank you NetGalley and Ringtale Publishing LLC for the ARC.
January 18, 2026
Wow! This is one of those times where I am so glad I persevered with a book.
The first few chapters had me quite confused and I even went back once or twice to reread a section to try gain more understanding but once I hit the 20% mark I was HOOKED.
The “vague” writing style was a great tool used for suspense and the politics of this world worked hand in hand with the mystery to create a unique and enjoyable plot. The ending may have been one of my favourite epilogues I have read in a long time.
I absolutely adored Avalon and Wren as I am wont to do with strong female characters.
Overall, an incredible debut for Casey P StJohn!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Ringtale Publishing for this Arc. My review is honest and my own.
The first few chapters had me quite confused and I even went back once or twice to reread a section to try gain more understanding but once I hit the 20% mark I was HOOKED.
The “vague” writing style was a great tool used for suspense and the politics of this world worked hand in hand with the mystery to create a unique and enjoyable plot. The ending may have been one of my favourite epilogues I have read in a long time.
I absolutely adored Avalon and Wren as I am wont to do with strong female characters.
Overall, an incredible debut for Casey P StJohn!
Thank you so much to Netgalley and Ringtale Publishing for this Arc. My review is honest and my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews