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Land of Ghosts #1
Terra de Fantasmas
Num momento único e devastador, perdi todos os que amava. Agora estou em Londres, a viver com Dylan, o meu "tio emprestado". E a única coisa que temos em comum é o sentimento de perda. Esta nova vida não é vida. É insuportável. Só que... está aqui alguém. Uma presença. Um jovem. Ele não pode ser real. Ou pode? Ele tem piada, é muito cool e muito irritante também... e compreende-me como ninguém. Mas só eu o consigo ver. Antes que me aperceba, ele ocupa todos os meus pensamentos, todos os meus sonhos. Será que me estou a apaixonar... por um fantasma?
464 pages, Paperback
First published October 20, 2026
About the author
E.L. James
71 books59.1k followersAll you need to know should be on here:
http://www.eljamesauthor.com/
Please come talk to me on twitter: @E_L_James
If you are interested in the play list from either of these books - please visit my youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/eljamesau...
http://www.eljamesauthor.com/
Please come talk to me on twitter: @E_L_James
If you are interested in the play list from either of these books - please visit my youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/eljamesau...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
maybe-idk
October 20, 2026Waiting for real reviews but I'm curious, are people badly rating this (without reviewing) because of 50 shades (don't be such a hater btw) or they actually read it?
October 15, 2026
I went into Land of Ghosts excited to see E L James explore paranormal romance, but I genuinely wasn’t expecting just how emotional and thought-provoking this book would be.
At its heart, this is so much more than a love story between a woman and a ghost. It’s a story about grief, loss, survivor’s guilt, learning to live again and the complicated emotions that come with loving someone you cannot necessarily hold on to.
I found this book incredibly moving, particularly in its exploration of grief. As someone who has experienced survivor’s guilt myself, certain moments hit incredibly close to home, and there were parts I found genuinely difficult to read. I think that’s what surprised me most about this story. Beneath the supernatural elements and the romance, there is a very raw exploration of what it means to survive something devastating and somehow find the strength to keep going.
Emily was an interesting character to follow, particularly as she navigated her grief alongside the increasingly strange circumstances surrounding her. I loved the mystery woven throughout the story, and the relationship between Emily and Tristan brought a mixture of tenderness, longing, frustration and heartbreak. There were moments I wanted to shake the characters, moments I wanted answers, and moments that genuinely made my heart ache.
I did find the pacing a little uneven in places, which is ultimately why this wasn’t quite a four or five-star read for me. However, I remained invested in the characters and the mystery surrounding the Land of Ghosts.
And can we PLEASE talk about that ending?! Without giving anything away, I was left absolutely speechless. Discovering afterwards that this is actually the first book in a duology made that ending even more insane, and suddenly I have about a thousand questions that desperately need answering.
A little content warning: I would strongly recommend checking the trigger warnings before picking this one up. There are several sensitive subjects explored throughout the book, particularly surrounding grief, death, trauma and survivor’s guilt. Although I found the story moving, I also found it emotionally heavy at times, so it’s worth being mindful of that going in.
Overall, Land of Ghosts was an emotional, haunting and intriguing introduction to a paranormal romance duology. It certainly wasn’t the lighthearted supernatural love story I had initially anticipated, but I appreciated the emotional depth behind it, and I’m incredibly intrigued to see where E L James takes these characters next.
At its heart, this is so much more than a love story between a woman and a ghost. It’s a story about grief, loss, survivor’s guilt, learning to live again and the complicated emotions that come with loving someone you cannot necessarily hold on to.
I found this book incredibly moving, particularly in its exploration of grief. As someone who has experienced survivor’s guilt myself, certain moments hit incredibly close to home, and there were parts I found genuinely difficult to read. I think that’s what surprised me most about this story. Beneath the supernatural elements and the romance, there is a very raw exploration of what it means to survive something devastating and somehow find the strength to keep going.
Emily was an interesting character to follow, particularly as she navigated her grief alongside the increasingly strange circumstances surrounding her. I loved the mystery woven throughout the story, and the relationship between Emily and Tristan brought a mixture of tenderness, longing, frustration and heartbreak. There were moments I wanted to shake the characters, moments I wanted answers, and moments that genuinely made my heart ache.
I did find the pacing a little uneven in places, which is ultimately why this wasn’t quite a four or five-star read for me. However, I remained invested in the characters and the mystery surrounding the Land of Ghosts.
And can we PLEASE talk about that ending?! Without giving anything away, I was left absolutely speechless. Discovering afterwards that this is actually the first book in a duology made that ending even more insane, and suddenly I have about a thousand questions that desperately need answering.
A little content warning: I would strongly recommend checking the trigger warnings before picking this one up. There are several sensitive subjects explored throughout the book, particularly surrounding grief, death, trauma and survivor’s guilt. Although I found the story moving, I also found it emotionally heavy at times, so it’s worth being mindful of that going in.
Overall, Land of Ghosts was an emotional, haunting and intriguing introduction to a paranormal romance duology. It certainly wasn’t the lighthearted supernatural love story I had initially anticipated, but I appreciated the emotional depth behind it, and I’m incredibly intrigued to see where E L James takes these characters next.
misc
September 16, 2026I need this to have reviews ASAP because I’m low key intrigued
Want to Read
June 1, 2026Land of Ghosts is a young adult paranormal fantasy novel by E. L. James and her first YA fantasy release. E. L. James first teased the book back in 2019 while promoting The Mister, describing it as a ghost story set in contemporary London. A sequel, titled Land of Dreams, has also been announced, and James hopes the series will be a trilogy.
Known information:
● The cover features the novel's main character, Emily Beauchamp.
● After losing her family, she moves to London to live with a distant relative.
● The house contains a mysterious presence.
● The story involves grief, healing, love, loss, and fantastical worlds.
● James describes it as an "impossible love story."
● It includes thriller elements, a slow-burn romance, and some spice.
Known information:
● The cover features the novel's main character, Emily Beauchamp.
● After losing her family, she moves to London to live with a distant relative.
● The house contains a mysterious presence.
● The story involves grief, healing, love, loss, and fantastical worlds.
● James describes it as an "impossible love story."
● It includes thriller elements, a slow-burn romance, and some spice.
September 20, 2026
👻 👻 👻 👻
What can I say? I loved it. I was a bit scared of the whole paranormal thing. But it was so sweet and sad and heartbreaking and funny and londonny and just adorable.
Sucks a tiny bit that we have to wait six months for the second book - I might have to do a re-read due to my #Bookalzheimers.
click ► HERE! to buy the book!
What can I say? I loved it. I was a bit scared of the whole paranormal thing. But it was so sweet and sad and heartbreaking and funny and londonny and just adorable.
Sucks a tiny bit that we have to wait six months for the second book - I might have to do a re-read due to my #Bookalzheimers.
click ► HERE! to buy the book!
October 26, 2026
Land of Ghosts by E.L. James is a major pivot into paranormal romantasy that delivers a great premise but fumbles the execution.
Following a devastating car crash that kills her family, 17-year-old Emily moves into her wealthy Uncle Dylan’s London townhouse, where she meets Tristan Fairfax- a ghost only she can see. While the tragic backstory makes Emily's grief understandable, her actual personality is tough to swallow. She frequently acts more like an entitled 11-year-old than a teenager.
Unfortunately, the romance doesn't quite save it. For a spirit who is supposed to carry the emotional weight of the book, Tristan seriously lacks charm, making the overall character build-up feel unripe.
It’s an intriguing start to a duology, but the execution needs a lot more development. I’m still holding out hope that the characters mature in the 2027 sequel, Land of Dreams.
Following a devastating car crash that kills her family, 17-year-old Emily moves into her wealthy Uncle Dylan’s London townhouse, where she meets Tristan Fairfax- a ghost only she can see. While the tragic backstory makes Emily's grief understandable, her actual personality is tough to swallow. She frequently acts more like an entitled 11-year-old than a teenager.
Unfortunately, the romance doesn't quite save it. For a spirit who is supposed to carry the emotional weight of the book, Tristan seriously lacks charm, making the overall character build-up feel unripe.
It’s an intriguing start to a duology, but the execution needs a lot more development. I’m still holding out hope that the characters mature in the 2027 sequel, Land of Dreams.
October 21, 2026
The first sign is a smell. Emily Beauchamp, seventeen and a week out from burying her parents and her little brother, wanders into a dusty back bedroom with primrose walls and catches something faint and pleasant that nobody else can detect. It comes and goes. It seems to vanish whenever her guardian walks in. Days later, while she paints a gold vine around the doorframe, she turns and finds a tall young man in black admiring her work, and he looks far more alarmed than she does. Land of Ghosts by E L James is built on that switch, from a grief that has stopped her feeling anything to a presence that makes her feel too much.
The novel, out now from Bloom Books, is James's first book for young adults and the opening half of a duology.
How the Haunting Works
Emily's family were killed by a drunk driver, and she survived with bruised ribs. Her guardian is Dr Dylan Knightley, her mother's adopted stepbrother, a junior A&E doctor about ten years older than her who has inherited a renovated house in Chiswick. Before the renovation it was a squat. Tristan Fairfax, nineteen, lived in Emily's new room, and he tells her he died there after someone hit him from behind.
The rules arrive piece by piece. Only Emily can see or hear Tristan, and his scent tells her when he is near. He can move objects, switch off a lamp with a glance and learn a person's thoughts by standing in exactly the space they occupy. He cannot touch her while she is awake, and he keeps refusing to say who set the limits. In sleep, though, he can lead her onto a misty purple moor, and that dream country gives Land of Ghosts by E L James its title. A former squatter prowling the garden supplies the mystery of who killed him.
A Grief Novel Under the Ghost Story
The structure is doing something smarter than its ghost-romance premise suggests. Tristan works as a device for getting Emily through the stages of mourning that a sensible adult cannot reach. One dream sequence early on gives her the goodbye the crash denied her, and it is the most moving thing in the book. The supernatural plot is in effect a bereavement plot with special effects, and Land of Ghosts by E L James is at its most convincing when it remembers that. Each new ghostly rule tends to arrive just as Emily needs a fresh reason to keep going.
The human scaffolding is just as important. Dylan is an A&E doctor improvising parenthood, decorating a bedroom from YouTube tutorials, saving a stranger's life with an aspirin in Sainsbury's and losing his temper because he is terrified. A stretch at his manoir near Bordeaux, with a pool and two friendly brothers from her new school, lets Emily rehearse being an ordinary teenager, though the shopping trips and wardrobe lists there run long.
What works
Grief that behaves like grief. Loud noises, a remembered car journey and the word "home" ambush Emily, and her guilt at enjoying an afternoon rings true.
The guardian. Dylan is the book's best character, and their reconciliations land.
A domestic, very British haunting. Sugar soap, seagrass carpet and the A-level timetable make the supernatural feel close.
The final chapters. The last stretch moves at a sprint and reframes much of what came before.
Where E L James Gives Ground
The reservations are real, and they grow heavier in the second half of Land of Ghosts by E L James, once the romance takes over the story.
Repetition. Pet phrases, eye colours and hands raked through hair return so often that the prose starts to blunt itself.
Possessiveness sold as devotion. Tristan reads Emily's mind without asking, polices her clothes and sulks when Dylan comforts her, and the book mostly treats this as proof of love.
A thin mystery. The question of who attacked Tristan is set up early and then left alone for long stretches.
The heat level. Several dream scenes go well beyond kissing with a seventeen-year-old narrator, and some readers will also flinch at hints of tension in the guardian relationship.
A hard cliffhanger. The central relationship ends unresolved, and a London novel uses American spelling throughout.
The Last Word
Land of Ghosts by E L James is better than its marketing will let some readers believe, and messier than its fans will admit. The grief is honest, Dylan is a gift and the final chapters change the shape of everything before them. The repetition, the possessive hero and an uneasy heat level for a teenage narrator keep it from being the book it could have been. It earns its place on a reader's shelf all the same, and the ghost leaves the door open.
The novel, out now from Bloom Books, is James's first book for young adults and the opening half of a duology.
How the Haunting Works
Emily's family were killed by a drunk driver, and she survived with bruised ribs. Her guardian is Dr Dylan Knightley, her mother's adopted stepbrother, a junior A&E doctor about ten years older than her who has inherited a renovated house in Chiswick. Before the renovation it was a squat. Tristan Fairfax, nineteen, lived in Emily's new room, and he tells her he died there after someone hit him from behind.
The rules arrive piece by piece. Only Emily can see or hear Tristan, and his scent tells her when he is near. He can move objects, switch off a lamp with a glance and learn a person's thoughts by standing in exactly the space they occupy. He cannot touch her while she is awake, and he keeps refusing to say who set the limits. In sleep, though, he can lead her onto a misty purple moor, and that dream country gives Land of Ghosts by E L James its title. A former squatter prowling the garden supplies the mystery of who killed him.
A Grief Novel Under the Ghost Story
The structure is doing something smarter than its ghost-romance premise suggests. Tristan works as a device for getting Emily through the stages of mourning that a sensible adult cannot reach. One dream sequence early on gives her the goodbye the crash denied her, and it is the most moving thing in the book. The supernatural plot is in effect a bereavement plot with special effects, and Land of Ghosts by E L James is at its most convincing when it remembers that. Each new ghostly rule tends to arrive just as Emily needs a fresh reason to keep going.
The human scaffolding is just as important. Dylan is an A&E doctor improvising parenthood, decorating a bedroom from YouTube tutorials, saving a stranger's life with an aspirin in Sainsbury's and losing his temper because he is terrified. A stretch at his manoir near Bordeaux, with a pool and two friendly brothers from her new school, lets Emily rehearse being an ordinary teenager, though the shopping trips and wardrobe lists there run long.
What works
Grief that behaves like grief. Loud noises, a remembered car journey and the word "home" ambush Emily, and her guilt at enjoying an afternoon rings true.
The guardian. Dylan is the book's best character, and their reconciliations land.
A domestic, very British haunting. Sugar soap, seagrass carpet and the A-level timetable make the supernatural feel close.
The final chapters. The last stretch moves at a sprint and reframes much of what came before.
Where E L James Gives Ground
The reservations are real, and they grow heavier in the second half of Land of Ghosts by E L James, once the romance takes over the story.
Repetition. Pet phrases, eye colours and hands raked through hair return so often that the prose starts to blunt itself.
Possessiveness sold as devotion. Tristan reads Emily's mind without asking, polices her clothes and sulks when Dylan comforts her, and the book mostly treats this as proof of love.
A thin mystery. The question of who attacked Tristan is set up early and then left alone for long stretches.
The heat level. Several dream scenes go well beyond kissing with a seventeen-year-old narrator, and some readers will also flinch at hints of tension in the guardian relationship.
A hard cliffhanger. The central relationship ends unresolved, and a London novel uses American spelling throughout.
The Last Word
Land of Ghosts by E L James is better than its marketing will let some readers believe, and messier than its fans will admit. The grief is honest, Dylan is a gift and the final chapters change the shape of everything before them. The repetition, the possessive hero and an uneasy heat level for a teenage narrator keep it from being the book it could have been. It earns its place on a reader's shelf all the same, and the ghost leaves the door open.
October 20, 2026
Pretty book, but poorly written, poorly developed characters, predictable ending… kept hoping there would at least be some good smut, but it fell short there, too. Only saving grace was that it was a quick read.
October 9, 2026
Is this book perfect - NO. Is there some scenes that made me raise my eyebrows YES. But man I INHALED this!
October 26, 2026
De 17-jarige Emily Beauchamp verliest bij een auto-ongeval met dronken chauffeur haar beide ouders en haar zevenjarige broertje Billy. Haar hele wereld stort in en ze blijft helemaal alleen achter. Haar tien jaar oudere oom Dylan, de stiefbroer van haar moeder die ze amper kent, wordt aangeduid als haar voogd. Dat betekent niet alleen dat ze haar vertrouwde omgeving verliest, maar ook dat ze haar ouderlijke woning moet verlaten.
In de steriele woning van haar oom voelt Emily zich verloren. Tot ze Tristan Fairfax ontmoet. Er is alleen één probleem: zij is de enige die hem kan zien…
Met Land of Ghosts schrijft E.L. James haar eerste young adultboek. De schrijfster is bij ons vooral bekend van haar Vijftig tinten-reeks, maar gelukkig heeft ze de spice achterwege gelaten in dit verhaal, dat zich richt op lezers vanaf 16 jaar. Daardoor blijft het boek toegankelijk voor deze doelgroep.
Het verhaal draait rond verlies, rouw en verwerking, maar ook rond woede, familie en schuldgevoelens. Emily probeert overeind te blijven terwijl haar hele leven overhoop is gehaald. Ze omschrijft apathie zelfs als haar beste vriendin, omdat ze niets meer wil voelen. Ze beseft dat ze zal breken als ze haar emoties toelaat. Ook prikkels kan ze moeilijk verdragen, omdat die telkens herinneringen oproepen aan wat ze verloren heeft.
Die gevoelens zorgen ervoor dat het verhaal op momenten rauw aanvoelt. Toch slaagde het er niet helemaal in om mij emotioneel te raken. Ik had gehoopt dat Emily's verdriet en haar zoektocht naar een manier om met haar verlies om te gaan me meer zouden meeslepen. Ondanks de zware thema's miste ik tijdens het lezen net dat tikkeltje extra om echt met haar mee te leven.
Gelukkig is er ook het mysterie rond de mannen in Emily's leven en rond de dood van Tristan. Zowel haar oom Dylan als Tristan heeft iets geheimzinnigs, waardoor je nieuwsgierig wordt naar hun achtergrond en hun bedoelingen. Je voelt dat ze meer weten dan ze vertellen en dat er nog heel wat geheimen achter de oppervlakte schuilgaan. Ik hoop dan ook dat de schrijfster in het vervolg meer tipjes van de sluier oplicht.
Beide mannen nemen bovendien een beschermende rol op zich tegenover Emily hoewel de bezitterigheid van Tristan niet altijd appreciëren.
Land of Ghosts is een verhaal over verlies, rouw en de zoektocht naar houvast wanneer je wereld plots instort. Hoewel het verhaal me persoonlijk niet helemaal wist te raken, heeft de mysterieuze sfeer rond de personages me wel nieuwsgierig gemaakt naar wat er nog komen gaat.
En nu is het wachten op het vervolg!
💬 'Het is niet de afwerking die een huis tot een thuis maakt. Het zijn de mensen, de mensen die van je houden.'
In de steriele woning van haar oom voelt Emily zich verloren. Tot ze Tristan Fairfax ontmoet. Er is alleen één probleem: zij is de enige die hem kan zien…
Met Land of Ghosts schrijft E.L. James haar eerste young adultboek. De schrijfster is bij ons vooral bekend van haar Vijftig tinten-reeks, maar gelukkig heeft ze de spice achterwege gelaten in dit verhaal, dat zich richt op lezers vanaf 16 jaar. Daardoor blijft het boek toegankelijk voor deze doelgroep.
Het verhaal draait rond verlies, rouw en verwerking, maar ook rond woede, familie en schuldgevoelens. Emily probeert overeind te blijven terwijl haar hele leven overhoop is gehaald. Ze omschrijft apathie zelfs als haar beste vriendin, omdat ze niets meer wil voelen. Ze beseft dat ze zal breken als ze haar emoties toelaat. Ook prikkels kan ze moeilijk verdragen, omdat die telkens herinneringen oproepen aan wat ze verloren heeft.
Die gevoelens zorgen ervoor dat het verhaal op momenten rauw aanvoelt. Toch slaagde het er niet helemaal in om mij emotioneel te raken. Ik had gehoopt dat Emily's verdriet en haar zoektocht naar een manier om met haar verlies om te gaan me meer zouden meeslepen. Ondanks de zware thema's miste ik tijdens het lezen net dat tikkeltje extra om echt met haar mee te leven.
Gelukkig is er ook het mysterie rond de mannen in Emily's leven en rond de dood van Tristan. Zowel haar oom Dylan als Tristan heeft iets geheimzinnigs, waardoor je nieuwsgierig wordt naar hun achtergrond en hun bedoelingen. Je voelt dat ze meer weten dan ze vertellen en dat er nog heel wat geheimen achter de oppervlakte schuilgaan. Ik hoop dan ook dat de schrijfster in het vervolg meer tipjes van de sluier oplicht.
Beide mannen nemen bovendien een beschermende rol op zich tegenover Emily hoewel de bezitterigheid van Tristan niet altijd appreciëren.
Land of Ghosts is een verhaal over verlies, rouw en de zoektocht naar houvast wanneer je wereld plots instort. Hoewel het verhaal me persoonlijk niet helemaal wist te raken, heeft de mysterieuze sfeer rond de personages me wel nieuwsgierig gemaakt naar wat er nog komen gaat.
En nu is het wachten op het vervolg!
💬 'Het is niet de afwerking die een huis tot een thuis maakt. Het zijn de mensen, de mensen die van je houden.'
October 23, 2026
Up until the very end of the last chapter I had actually made up my mind about this being three star read (or better listen, since this is a review of the audiobook) but I really have to knock a half star off because this is one of the biggest middle fingers an author can give their readers (namely, her ghost crush not actually being dead but in a freaking coma).
What the fuck is this??? I can deal with that people miraculously coming back to life and/or possessing other people’s bodies but this is incredibly stupid and lame.
Heck, even Sarah readyhad a more creative ending in her novel “ghosted” which I otherwise found godawful
(I shouldn’t have expected anything more James obviously, my fault).
Correction/edit on this part:
I’ve been thinking and maybe I was too quick with my assumption (James either missed a massive plot hole or she was like “ shit. I don’t know how to write a murder mystery,
So I’ll just retcon the whole thing”).
If anybody could clear that up for me, I’d be really grateful because that has been driving me crazy:
Emily at one point finally gets the idea to look up the circumstances of Tristan’s ghost status online and does actually find an article where it explicit states that he was murdered (no mention of him being in a critical state at a hospital, but actually having died”. So what does this thing with him being connected to tubes and machinery as well as somebody tell him something to the regard of “welcome back, Mr Fairfax” mean?
Is that actually supposed to be in the dream world ?
That would be way better.
Second question (not as burning) for me:
Does Dylan also have the hots for Emily? Because this would be majorly fucked up.I’m kind of getting that impression when he mentions her hair looking like wildfire and would also somehow explain his weird aloofness.
That would also explain the whole antagonistic stance of Tristan toward him (up until the point where they grudgingly join forces to protect Emily (that is so “eclipse”, by the way) (facepalm).
I do hope it’s something else though, because Tristan makes several other remarks that point to him having a shady past, in my opinion. My second guess is that this is a Phantom of the opera-situation and Dylan had a crush on Emily’s mother who looked very similar to her apparently.
Writing Style/ pacing:
I’ve only ever read 50 SOG before, and I do say her writing hasn’t improved, with a lot of repetition in phrasing and vocabulary (i.e., you could make a drinking game of how often someone drgs their hand through their hair(refers to both main characters).
Also the pacing is all over the place, it takes ages for the two romantic leads to meet, and in the meantime, not much of anything is actually happening.
Characters:
Emily is the most frustrating character I’ve read about this year, and that’s saying something after having subjected myself to „the new husband“
On the one hand, she apparently has stellar GCSEs, but can’t put 1+ one together at times (I.e. when her ghost crush Tristan tricks her running through him so he can read her thoughts, even though he told her about that not even half a day ago).
Other than that, she at least has a hobby other than reading (duh…) ( music) which makes her at least somewhat better conceived than Ana.
I personally found the depiction of grieving to feel accurate in it’s individual stages and find it believable that she would have setbacks, but I got “ This girl must’ve been bipolar or something even before her family died”-vibes because the mood swings she had ( especially toward the end) were way too crass for me. I can relate to feeling guilt over having favorites in the family, and to have that as an additional problem she needs to deal with in the situation is also a nice touch in the sense of realism, so kudos for that, also.
Last thing connected to this topic for Emily:
I hate it when characters are hypocritical, and she certainly falls into that category (i.e. Accusing Dylan of not trusting her and being mean the morning after the drug party incident. That might be EL James Way of trying to make her into a realistic teeny, but that only added to her overall annoyingness for me.
Dylan and Tristan also annoyed me, with Dylan additionally actually coming across more creepy to me than Tristan, somewhat ironic since the haunting ghost should be the creepy one.
Dylan seems to have a best interest at heart and does his best to take care of her, but his default behavior toward her is strangely aloof for the most part, except for those moments where he apologizes for having been angry with or comforting Emily.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I am actually getting major choleric vibes.
Tristan is not much better in the choleric department but I still like him better on balance because he actually does fit the description given in the book trailers (funny, and o charming (when he doesn’t feel under stress for needing to protect Emily, when he turns into Christian grey mode (“do as you’re told”). Speaking of which, also liked the consent aspect James employs here (he does ask for permission to touch/kiss her), so that’s also an improvement. All in all though, if someone would ask me who I would date out of the three of them (Christian grey (haven’t read “the mister yet) Dylan, or Tristan), it would probably be him ;).
I found it nice that Emily and him bonded a bit over music (he played guitar and piano) and (this was my highlight of the novel actually) that he was able to give her some closure by conveniently finding her parents in that dream world so Emily could say goodbye to them, which truly came across as something selfless/he wanted to do for her for her sake, and not to manipulate her into feeling grateful to him.
The possession thing is icky, but I’m choosing to treat this as an emergency situation. Also, Emily actually seems to have the hots for Dylan too so… at this point James could actually just say I’m making this a why choose romance.
Even despite all the negative stuff, I’ve written, this is still better than 50shades and for above stated reasons, and into hopefully having my questions answered, I will read the second book. Also, I listened to the audiobook version, and all narrators do a great job.
What the fuck is this??? I can deal with that people miraculously coming back to life and/or possessing other people’s bodies but this is incredibly stupid and lame.
Heck, even Sarah readyhad a more creative ending in her novel “ghosted” which I otherwise found godawful
(I shouldn’t have expected anything more James obviously, my fault).
Correction/edit on this part:
I’ve been thinking and maybe I was too quick with my assumption (James either missed a massive plot hole or she was like “ shit. I don’t know how to write a murder mystery,
So I’ll just retcon the whole thing”).
If anybody could clear that up for me, I’d be really grateful because that has been driving me crazy:
Emily at one point finally gets the idea to look up the circumstances of Tristan’s ghost status online and does actually find an article where it explicit states that he was murdered (no mention of him being in a critical state at a hospital, but actually having died”. So what does this thing with him being connected to tubes and machinery as well as somebody tell him something to the regard of “welcome back, Mr Fairfax” mean?
Is that actually supposed to be in the dream world ?
That would be way better.
Second question (not as burning) for me:
Does Dylan also have the hots for Emily? Because this would be majorly fucked up.I’m kind of getting that impression when he mentions her hair looking like wildfire and would also somehow explain his weird aloofness.
That would also explain the whole antagonistic stance of Tristan toward him (up until the point where they grudgingly join forces to protect Emily (that is so “eclipse”, by the way) (facepalm).
I do hope it’s something else though, because Tristan makes several other remarks that point to him having a shady past, in my opinion. My second guess is that this is a Phantom of the opera-situation and Dylan had a crush on Emily’s mother who looked very similar to her apparently.
Writing Style/ pacing:
I’ve only ever read 50 SOG before, and I do say her writing hasn’t improved, with a lot of repetition in phrasing and vocabulary (i.e., you could make a drinking game of how often someone drgs their hand through their hair(refers to both main characters).
Also the pacing is all over the place, it takes ages for the two romantic leads to meet, and in the meantime, not much of anything is actually happening.
Characters:
Emily is the most frustrating character I’ve read about this year, and that’s saying something after having subjected myself to „the new husband“
On the one hand, she apparently has stellar GCSEs, but can’t put 1+ one together at times (I.e. when her ghost crush Tristan tricks her running through him so he can read her thoughts, even though he told her about that not even half a day ago).
Other than that, she at least has a hobby other than reading (duh…) ( music) which makes her at least somewhat better conceived than Ana.
I personally found the depiction of grieving to feel accurate in it’s individual stages and find it believable that she would have setbacks, but I got “ This girl must’ve been bipolar or something even before her family died”-vibes because the mood swings she had ( especially toward the end) were way too crass for me. I can relate to feeling guilt over having favorites in the family, and to have that as an additional problem she needs to deal with in the situation is also a nice touch in the sense of realism, so kudos for that, also.
Last thing connected to this topic for Emily:
I hate it when characters are hypocritical, and she certainly falls into that category (i.e. Accusing Dylan of not trusting her and being mean the morning after the drug party incident. That might be EL James Way of trying to make her into a realistic teeny, but that only added to her overall annoyingness for me.
Dylan and Tristan also annoyed me, with Dylan additionally actually coming across more creepy to me than Tristan, somewhat ironic since the haunting ghost should be the creepy one.
Dylan seems to have a best interest at heart and does his best to take care of her, but his default behavior toward her is strangely aloof for the most part, except for those moments where he apologizes for having been angry with or comforting Emily.
Now that I’m thinking about it, I am actually getting major choleric vibes.
Tristan is not much better in the choleric department but I still like him better on balance because he actually does fit the description given in the book trailers (funny, and o charming (when he doesn’t feel under stress for needing to protect Emily, when he turns into Christian grey mode (“do as you’re told”). Speaking of which, also liked the consent aspect James employs here (he does ask for permission to touch/kiss her), so that’s also an improvement. All in all though, if someone would ask me who I would date out of the three of them (Christian grey (haven’t read “the mister yet) Dylan, or Tristan), it would probably be him ;).
I found it nice that Emily and him bonded a bit over music (he played guitar and piano) and (this was my highlight of the novel actually) that he was able to give her some closure by conveniently finding her parents in that dream world so Emily could say goodbye to them, which truly came across as something selfless/he wanted to do for her for her sake, and not to manipulate her into feeling grateful to him.
The possession thing is icky, but I’m choosing to treat this as an emergency situation. Also, Emily actually seems to have the hots for Dylan too so… at this point James could actually just say I’m making this a why choose romance.
Even despite all the negative stuff, I’ve written, this is still better than 50shades and for above stated reasons, and into hopefully having my questions answered, I will read the second book. Also, I listened to the audiobook version, and all narrators do a great job.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2026
THAT ENDING? I had goosebumps
A turn pager for sure and I’m currently sat staring at the wall wondering what I’m going to do next.
Book two when? 😃I need now idc if there wasn’t any plans for a book two, my girl Emily deserves the happiness
A turn pager for sure and I’m currently sat staring at the wall wondering what I’m going to do next.
Book two when? 😃I need now idc if there wasn’t any plans for a book two, my girl Emily deserves the happiness
October 31, 2026
I don’t even know how to feel about this book. Page 1 had me HOOKED! But smut in a YA book? Ick. And, the end? I get that it’s leading into book 2 but COME ON!
As the book goes on I got really tired of Emily. Frankly, Lulu was one of my favorites! And did the uncle have the hots for Emily? I don’t know. It’s weird. Like…weird!
As the book goes on I got really tired of Emily. Frankly, Lulu was one of my favorites! And did the uncle have the hots for Emily? I don’t know. It’s weird. Like…weird!
October 26, 2026
I am not really sure how I feel about this book.
October 24, 2026
Like another comment said, are people rating this low because of the author? Granted when I pre ordered, I didnt recognize the name and probably would have hesitated but Im glad I didnt. I really enjoyed this and cant wait for the next part.
October 26, 2026
Audiobook. Narrated by Bethan Rose Young, Ed McVey, Maxim Ays. Very good performances and nice British accents.
First time listening them.
This book is a duology and ends in a cliffhanger!
Overall, Land of Ghosts was an emotional, haunting and intriguing introduction to a paranormal romance duology. It’s a story about grief, loss, survivor’s guilt, learning to live again and the complicated emotions that come with loving someone you cannot necessarily hold on to. **Trigger warnings for those going through grief, trauma and death. It's heartbreaking story and the character/narrator does such an amazing job at showing her pain and sadness.
17-year-old Emily loses her entire immediate family in a sudden, devastating car accident by a drunk driver. Emily is the only survivor. Overwhelmed by survivor’s guilt and grief, she moves to London to live with Dylan Knightley, a wealthy, late-20s adopted stepbrother of her mother who becomes her guardian. While living in Dylan's large, lonely house, Emily encounters Tristan Fairfax, the ghost of a former resident and a beautiful young man who was brutally murdered in his home 2 years prior at 19 yrs old.
Tristan is only visible and audible to Emily. He understands her profound isolation and grief in a way no living person can.
As they spend time together, Emily and Tristan develop an intense, sensory, and deeply emotional bond, navigating the painful limitation of falling in love with someone she cannot physically touch. The rules arrive piece by piece. Only Emily can see or hear Tristan, and his scent tells her when he is near. He can move objects, switch off a lamp with a glance and learn a person’s thoughts by standing in exactly the space they occupy. He cannot touch her while she is awake, and he keeps refusing to say who set the limits. In sleep, though, he can lead her onto a misty purple moor, and that dream country.
Alongside their growing romance, Emily and Dylan try to uncover the truth behind Tristan's presence, his telekinetic abilities, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.
Tristan works as a device for getting Emily through the stages of mourning that a sensible adult cannot reach. One dream sequence early on gives her the goodbye the crash denied her, and it is the most moving thing in the book. The supernatural plot is in effect a bereavement plot with special effects, and Land of Ghosts by E L James is at its most convincing when it remembers that. Each new ghostly rule tends to arrive just as Emily needs a fresh reason to keep going.
In the final chapters of the novel, the narrative moves at a breakneck sprint to reframe the paranormal mystery surrounding Tristan Fairfax, the ghost haunted by his past. The book ends on a hard cliffhanger. The mystery of how Tristan died and who attacked him comes to a head, shifting the tone heavily from a grief-stricken romance into a fast-paced thriller.
the ending leaves Emily Beauchamp's ultimate fate, her relationship with Tristan, and the supernatural rules binding them completely unresolved, setting up the story for the next installment, Land of Dreams.
The ending was Emily trying to follow Tristan into a portal where these dark shadows are taking him. Emily jumps in but Tristan tells her to go back and he will come find her wherever she is. Emily goes on with her life in England and goes to elite school.
Then the final twist was Tristan being spoken to and woken up by voices, saying " Welcome back Mr. Fairfax".
I have so many questions, is he alive and didn't die and was in a coma?
Next duology out in April 2027.
5 stars!!
First time listening them.
This book is a duology and ends in a cliffhanger!
Overall, Land of Ghosts was an emotional, haunting and intriguing introduction to a paranormal romance duology. It’s a story about grief, loss, survivor’s guilt, learning to live again and the complicated emotions that come with loving someone you cannot necessarily hold on to. **Trigger warnings for those going through grief, trauma and death. It's heartbreaking story and the character/narrator does such an amazing job at showing her pain and sadness.
17-year-old Emily loses her entire immediate family in a sudden, devastating car accident by a drunk driver. Emily is the only survivor. Overwhelmed by survivor’s guilt and grief, she moves to London to live with Dylan Knightley, a wealthy, late-20s adopted stepbrother of her mother who becomes her guardian. While living in Dylan's large, lonely house, Emily encounters Tristan Fairfax, the ghost of a former resident and a beautiful young man who was brutally murdered in his home 2 years prior at 19 yrs old.
Tristan is only visible and audible to Emily. He understands her profound isolation and grief in a way no living person can.
As they spend time together, Emily and Tristan develop an intense, sensory, and deeply emotional bond, navigating the painful limitation of falling in love with someone she cannot physically touch. The rules arrive piece by piece. Only Emily can see or hear Tristan, and his scent tells her when he is near. He can move objects, switch off a lamp with a glance and learn a person’s thoughts by standing in exactly the space they occupy. He cannot touch her while she is awake, and he keeps refusing to say who set the limits. In sleep, though, he can lead her onto a misty purple moor, and that dream country.
Alongside their growing romance, Emily and Dylan try to uncover the truth behind Tristan's presence, his telekinetic abilities, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.
Tristan works as a device for getting Emily through the stages of mourning that a sensible adult cannot reach. One dream sequence early on gives her the goodbye the crash denied her, and it is the most moving thing in the book. The supernatural plot is in effect a bereavement plot with special effects, and Land of Ghosts by E L James is at its most convincing when it remembers that. Each new ghostly rule tends to arrive just as Emily needs a fresh reason to keep going.
In the final chapters of the novel, the narrative moves at a breakneck sprint to reframe the paranormal mystery surrounding Tristan Fairfax, the ghost haunted by his past. The book ends on a hard cliffhanger. The mystery of how Tristan died and who attacked him comes to a head, shifting the tone heavily from a grief-stricken romance into a fast-paced thriller.
the ending leaves Emily Beauchamp's ultimate fate, her relationship with Tristan, and the supernatural rules binding them completely unresolved, setting up the story for the next installment, Land of Dreams.
The ending was Emily trying to follow Tristan into a portal where these dark shadows are taking him. Emily jumps in but Tristan tells her to go back and he will come find her wherever she is. Emily goes on with her life in England and goes to elite school.
Then the final twist was Tristan being spoken to and woken up by voices, saying " Welcome back Mr. Fairfax".
I have so many questions, is he alive and didn't die and was in a coma?
Next duology out in April 2027.
5 stars!!
October 29, 2026
Stellt euch vor: Von einer Sekunde auf die andere verliert ihr alles. Eure Familie ist weg, euer bisheriges Leben ausgelöscht. Genau in dieser eisigen, tauben Hölle der Überlebensschuld befinde ich mich mit der siebzehnjährigen Protagonistin Emily. Sie muss ihr vertrautes Kent hinter sich lassen und zieht nach London zu ihrem neuen Vormund – einem jungen Notarzt, der selbst völlig überfordert versucht, ihr Halt zu geben.
Die Trauer in diesem Buch zieht einem wirklich den Magen zusammen. Es ist so schonungslos ehrlich geschrieben; Momente wie das gemeinsame Weinen auf dem Boden über eine alte Erinnerung oder das erste Wiederberühren eines Cello-Bogens gingen mir unglaublich nahe.
Doch dann verändert sich die Atmosphäre. Es beginnt mit einem Duft in einem primelgelben Zimmer. Und plötzlich steht da ein junger Mann in Schwarz. Tristan. Er ist witzig, stur, er raubt ihr den letzten Nerv, und doch ist er der Einzige, der sie in ihrer tiefsten Isolation wirklich versteht. Das "Problem" daran ist, dass er mit neunzehn Jahren gestorben ist. Brutal ermordet in genau diesem Haus. Nur Emily kann ihn sehen, nur sie kann ihn hören. Im Wachzustand darf er sie nicht berühren, er liest ihre Gedanken, knipst Lichter aus und führt sie nachts in Träumen durch ein nebliges, violettes Moor...
Ich sag es euch wie es ist: Die Dynamik zwischen den beiden ist eine absolute Achterbahnfahrt aus Zärtlichkeit, Sehnsucht, düsterer Besitzgier und purem Herzschmerz. Manchmal wollte ich die Figuren einfach nur schütteln! Aber die übernatürlichen Regeln und dieses zarte Band zwischen ihnen ziehen einen so tief hinein, dass man nicht aufhören kann zu lesen.
Und während man noch versucht, die Tränen wegzuwischen und dem düsteren Geheimnis um seinen Mörder auf die Spur zu kommen, schaltet das Buch im Finale plötzlich in den absoluten Thriller-Modus um! Ich saß einfach nur fassungslos da. Dunkle Schatten, ein Portal, ein dramatischer Abschied und dann... diese allerletzten Worte! What the fck?! Ich habe tausend Fragen und mein Kopf explodiert förmlich! Dass das der Auftakt einer Dilogie ist und wir jetzt bis zum nächsten Band warten müssen, ist die reinste Folter, ey!
Fazit: „Land of Ghosts“ ist ein emotional niederschmetternder, packender Auftakt voller Schmerz, Gänsehaut-Romantik und einem mörderischen Cliffhanger, der einen ins Buch beißen lässt. Wer emotionale Tiefe und paranormale Spannung sucht, muss dieses Buch einfach lesen! Aber bitte nehmt die Triggerwarnungen vor dem Lesen unbedingt ernst! Das Buch behandelt sensible Themen wie Verlust, Trauma, Trauer und Überlebensschuld sehr intensiv und geht emotional extrem unter die Haut. Sagt nicht, ich hätte euch nicht gewarnt!
Die Trauer in diesem Buch zieht einem wirklich den Magen zusammen. Es ist so schonungslos ehrlich geschrieben; Momente wie das gemeinsame Weinen auf dem Boden über eine alte Erinnerung oder das erste Wiederberühren eines Cello-Bogens gingen mir unglaublich nahe.
Doch dann verändert sich die Atmosphäre. Es beginnt mit einem Duft in einem primelgelben Zimmer. Und plötzlich steht da ein junger Mann in Schwarz. Tristan. Er ist witzig, stur, er raubt ihr den letzten Nerv, und doch ist er der Einzige, der sie in ihrer tiefsten Isolation wirklich versteht. Das "Problem" daran ist, dass er mit neunzehn Jahren gestorben ist. Brutal ermordet in genau diesem Haus. Nur Emily kann ihn sehen, nur sie kann ihn hören. Im Wachzustand darf er sie nicht berühren, er liest ihre Gedanken, knipst Lichter aus und führt sie nachts in Träumen durch ein nebliges, violettes Moor...
Ich sag es euch wie es ist: Die Dynamik zwischen den beiden ist eine absolute Achterbahnfahrt aus Zärtlichkeit, Sehnsucht, düsterer Besitzgier und purem Herzschmerz. Manchmal wollte ich die Figuren einfach nur schütteln! Aber die übernatürlichen Regeln und dieses zarte Band zwischen ihnen ziehen einen so tief hinein, dass man nicht aufhören kann zu lesen.
Und während man noch versucht, die Tränen wegzuwischen und dem düsteren Geheimnis um seinen Mörder auf die Spur zu kommen, schaltet das Buch im Finale plötzlich in den absoluten Thriller-Modus um! Ich saß einfach nur fassungslos da. Dunkle Schatten, ein Portal, ein dramatischer Abschied und dann... diese allerletzten Worte! What the fck?! Ich habe tausend Fragen und mein Kopf explodiert förmlich! Dass das der Auftakt einer Dilogie ist und wir jetzt bis zum nächsten Band warten müssen, ist die reinste Folter, ey!
Fazit: „Land of Ghosts“ ist ein emotional niederschmetternder, packender Auftakt voller Schmerz, Gänsehaut-Romantik und einem mörderischen Cliffhanger, der einen ins Buch beißen lässt. Wer emotionale Tiefe und paranormale Spannung sucht, muss dieses Buch einfach lesen! Aber bitte nehmt die Triggerwarnungen vor dem Lesen unbedingt ernst! Das Buch behandelt sensible Themen wie Verlust, Trauma, Trauer und Überlebensschuld sehr intensiv und geht emotional extrem unter die Haut. Sagt nicht, ich hätte euch nicht gewarnt!
October 26, 2026
2,5 bis 3
Also Land of Ghosts gibt mir irgendwie ein totales Nostalgie Gefühl. Es hätte perfekt zu den Büchern, die so um die 2000 erschienen sind gepasst. Das meine ich im positiven und negativen Sinne.
Die Geschichte startet aufjedenfall direkt mit einem Pang, mit der Beerdigung der Familie unsere Hauptcharaktärin. Wie die Trauer und Heilung im Buch dargestellt wurde fand ich sehr schön. Trauer ist nicht geradlinig, jeder Tag ist anders und die kleinsten Dinge können einen zurückwerfen. Ich mag die Charaktere und die Beziehungen, die mit der Zeit entstehen sehr gerne.
Emily ist aber die perfekte 2000er fmc. Rothaarig, jung, brav in einer neuen und teils übernatürlichen Umgebung und sie denkt sie wäre hässlich, obwohl ihr oft gesagt wird wie schön sie ist. Ich weiß, dass das realistisch bei Teenagern ist, aber mir war es bisschen viel und es fühlte sich oft so an, wie ein Erwachsener einen Teenager beschreibt, der sich nicht mehr erinnert, wie es war selber einer gewesen zu sein.
Die Geschichte wird mit Titel und Beschreibung als eher übernatürliche Stoey beschrieben. Es dauert allerdings unendlich lange bis der Geist überhaupt mal auftaucht und über die ganze Geschichte erfahren wir sehr wenig darüber, wie Geister funktionieren usw. Also kein wirkliches Worldbuilding. Es ist eher 90% normale Geschichte mit einer Priese Geist. Da war ich auf etwas Anderes eingestellt.
Zudem gibt ws mir zu viele komische Andeutungen zwischen ihr und ihrem "Onkel".
Die Liebe zwischen ihr und Tristan war sehr Insta Love und er nennt sie von einen Moment auf den anderen Baby. So hä du kennst ihn nicht wirklich. Aber das hat auch irgendwie Sinn gemacht, weil beide einfach sehr einsam sind und sich nach Nähe gesehnt haben.
Das Ende war dann aufeinmal ganz anders und es ist viel passiert. Der Cliffhanger hat mich jetzt doch ziemlich neugierig gemacht. Deswegen bin ich hin und her gerissen, ob ich den nächsten Band lesen soll. Denn ich könnte mir eine qu derschöne familiäre Beziehung zwischen Dylan und Emilie vorstellen. Diese komischen Andeutungen machen mir nur Angst. Wenn er auf sie steht oder so, wäre das ein Grund für mich direkt abzubrechen.
Wenn ihr eher ruhige Geschichten, mit vielen Emotionen und einer kleinen Priese Übernatürlichen mögt👻, dann denke ich wird euch dieses Buch sehr gut gefallen. Wenn man richtiges Fantasy mag oder eher gruselige Geister Geschichten, dann eher nicht.
Ich persönlich fand es im Herbst schön zu lesen und werde mich für den nächsten Teil etwas spoilern lassen, um zu entscheiden, on ich weiterlesen oder nicht.
Also Land of Ghosts gibt mir irgendwie ein totales Nostalgie Gefühl. Es hätte perfekt zu den Büchern, die so um die 2000 erschienen sind gepasst. Das meine ich im positiven und negativen Sinne.
Die Geschichte startet aufjedenfall direkt mit einem Pang, mit der Beerdigung der Familie unsere Hauptcharaktärin. Wie die Trauer und Heilung im Buch dargestellt wurde fand ich sehr schön. Trauer ist nicht geradlinig, jeder Tag ist anders und die kleinsten Dinge können einen zurückwerfen. Ich mag die Charaktere und die Beziehungen, die mit der Zeit entstehen sehr gerne.
Emily ist aber die perfekte 2000er fmc. Rothaarig, jung, brav in einer neuen und teils übernatürlichen Umgebung und sie denkt sie wäre hässlich, obwohl ihr oft gesagt wird wie schön sie ist. Ich weiß, dass das realistisch bei Teenagern ist, aber mir war es bisschen viel und es fühlte sich oft so an, wie ein Erwachsener einen Teenager beschreibt, der sich nicht mehr erinnert, wie es war selber einer gewesen zu sein.
Die Geschichte wird mit Titel und Beschreibung als eher übernatürliche Stoey beschrieben. Es dauert allerdings unendlich lange bis der Geist überhaupt mal auftaucht und über die ganze Geschichte erfahren wir sehr wenig darüber, wie Geister funktionieren usw. Also kein wirkliches Worldbuilding. Es ist eher 90% normale Geschichte mit einer Priese Geist. Da war ich auf etwas Anderes eingestellt.
Zudem gibt ws mir zu viele komische Andeutungen zwischen ihr und ihrem "Onkel".
Die Liebe zwischen ihr und Tristan war sehr Insta Love und er nennt sie von einen Moment auf den anderen Baby. So hä du kennst ihn nicht wirklich. Aber das hat auch irgendwie Sinn gemacht, weil beide einfach sehr einsam sind und sich nach Nähe gesehnt haben.
Das Ende war dann aufeinmal ganz anders und es ist viel passiert. Der Cliffhanger hat mich jetzt doch ziemlich neugierig gemacht. Deswegen bin ich hin und her gerissen, ob ich den nächsten Band lesen soll. Denn ich könnte mir eine qu derschöne familiäre Beziehung zwischen Dylan und Emilie vorstellen. Diese komischen Andeutungen machen mir nur Angst. Wenn er auf sie steht oder so, wäre das ein Grund für mich direkt abzubrechen.
Wenn ihr eher ruhige Geschichten, mit vielen Emotionen und einer kleinen Priese Übernatürlichen mögt👻, dann denke ich wird euch dieses Buch sehr gut gefallen. Wenn man richtiges Fantasy mag oder eher gruselige Geister Geschichten, dann eher nicht.
Ich persönlich fand es im Herbst schön zu lesen und werde mich für den nächsten Teil etwas spoilern lassen, um zu entscheiden, on ich weiterlesen oder nicht.
October 29, 2026
OMG, this was so good. E.L. James weaves this tug at your heartstrings yet beautiful story of Emily who is dealing with her grief while finding her way when she has to live with her Uncle Dylan after losing her entire family in a car accident. Only she survived and doesn't understand why. She's only 17 so she has to move into a new home where she meets Tristan. Tristan seems to be the one bright spot for her. But he too worries about Emily while trying to steer clear of “The Custodian” and The Reapers. But just who is he and why can't she tell her Uncle about him. Because she knows her Uncle wouldn’t believe her if she did. Uncle Dylan worries for her but is trying his best to help her while dealing with his own grief. A great Paranormal/Young Adult Romance story so worth the read! This is book one in the series with book two coming out in 2027.
October 30, 2026
I was surprised by how moving this was, the sudden moments of overwhelming grief felt especially real. I thought the reunion with her family, while lovely, was a little too soon in the story though. It might have been more impactful near the end.
I liked James’ characterization of Emily. I think she explores how a teenager might struggle to handle their grief realistically, especially the partying. I hope she doesn’t forget the things that make Emily unique, like her cello playing, which is a cool detail.
I’m not sure which direction the author is going in, but Dylan is slightly more compelling than the actual love interest. A talented young doctor with his own tragic back story, who was in a band and soulfully plays the guitar? Come on.
I thought this was a great first installment, though it did take a while to get started, and look forward to the next part. I wonder if she will continue exploring the Land of Ghosts, considering Tristan woke up? So many unanswered questions.
P.S. This book will make you want to eat crumpets with honey.
I liked James’ characterization of Emily. I think she explores how a teenager might struggle to handle their grief realistically, especially the partying. I hope she doesn’t forget the things that make Emily unique, like her cello playing, which is a cool detail.
I’m not sure which direction the author is going in, but Dylan is slightly more compelling than the actual love interest. A talented young doctor with his own tragic back story, who was in a band and soulfully plays the guitar? Come on.
I thought this was a great first installment, though it did take a while to get started, and look forward to the next part. I wonder if she will continue exploring the Land of Ghosts, considering Tristan woke up? So many unanswered questions.
P.S. This book will make you want to eat crumpets with honey.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 22, 2026
1⭐️
nul nul nul et encore nul
elle a 17 ans, elle se plaint comme un bébé, l'autrice n'a pas vraiment su la caractériser ce qui fait que je l'ai trouvée super chiante (désolée du terme mais y a vraiment pas d'autre mot...)
le fantôme a aucune aura (dsl encore), il est pas vraiment intéressant, son histoire pas très crédible ni originale, je trouve qu'on aurait dû en savoir plus sur l'univers plus "fantastique"
j'ai trouvé la relation avec le tuteur très ambiguë, presque problématique, j'ai peur de voir dans quelle direction ça va aller et les raisons du comportement "mystérieux" de Dylan, mais bon en vrai je vais pas lire la suite donc m'en fiche
j'ai vraiment essayé de trouver des aspects positifs et de rester objective, mais c'est impossible je cringeais à chaque mot???
bref, c'est pas dans mon habitude d'être aussi négative mais c'était nul et je recommande pas🫥
nul nul nul et encore nul
elle a 17 ans, elle se plaint comme un bébé, l'autrice n'a pas vraiment su la caractériser ce qui fait que je l'ai trouvée super chiante (désolée du terme mais y a vraiment pas d'autre mot...)
le fantôme a aucune aura (dsl encore), il est pas vraiment intéressant, son histoire pas très crédible ni originale, je trouve qu'on aurait dû en savoir plus sur l'univers plus "fantastique"
j'ai trouvé la relation avec le tuteur très ambiguë, presque problématique, j'ai peur de voir dans quelle direction ça va aller et les raisons du comportement "mystérieux" de Dylan, mais bon en vrai je vais pas lire la suite donc m'en fiche
j'ai vraiment essayé de trouver des aspects positifs et de rester objective, mais c'est impossible je cringeais à chaque mot???
bref, c'est pas dans mon habitude d'être aussi négative mais c'était nul et je recommande pas🫥
October 22, 2026
1⭐️
nul nul nul et encore nul
elle a 17 ans, elle se plaint comme un bébé, l'autrice n'a pas vraiment su la caractériser ce qui fait que je l'ai trouvée super chiante (désolée du terme mais y a vraiment pas d'autre mot...)
le fantôme a aucune aura (dsl encore), il est pas vraiment intéressant, son histoire pas très crédible ni originale, je trouve qu'on aurait dû en savoir plus sur l'univers plus "fantastique"
j'ai trouvé la relation avec le tuteur très ambiguë, presque problématique, j'ai peur de voir dans quelle direction ça va aller et les raisons du comportement "mystérieux" de Dylan, mais bon en vrai je vais pas lire la suite donc m'en fiche
j'ai vraiment essayé de trouver des aspects positifs et de rester objective, mais c'est impossible je cringeais à chaque mot???
bref, c'est pas dans mon habitude d'être aussi négative mais c'était nul et je recommande pas🫥
nul nul nul et encore nul
elle a 17 ans, elle se plaint comme un bébé, l'autrice n'a pas vraiment su la caractériser ce qui fait que je l'ai trouvée super chiante (désolée du terme mais y a vraiment pas d'autre mot...)
le fantôme a aucune aura (dsl encore), il est pas vraiment intéressant, son histoire pas très crédible ni originale, je trouve qu'on aurait dû en savoir plus sur l'univers plus "fantastique"
j'ai trouvé la relation avec le tuteur très ambiguë, presque problématique, j'ai peur de voir dans quelle direction ça va aller et les raisons du comportement "mystérieux" de Dylan, mais bon en vrai je vais pas lire la suite donc m'en fiche
j'ai vraiment essayé de trouver des aspects positifs et de rester objective, mais c'est impossible je cringeais à chaque mot???
bref, c'est pas dans mon habitude d'être aussi négative mais c'était nul et je recommande pas🫥
October 29, 2026
💔Their loss had left a huge, indelible hole in my chest that was torn & ragged at the edges. 💔
If i knew this was YA I wouldn’t of picked it up - we follow Emily 17yo who loses her family in a accident she goes to live with her Guardian Dylan and she finds out there’s a 19yr old Ghost Tristan haunting his house who only she can see.
The last 200 pages was a drag for me, gets very cringe aswell which is probably because it was YA.
The audiobook was done well being a duet.
But unfortunately this was just not for me.. I would probably of liked it if main characters were adults not teens with “raging hormones”
And that ending 😦… so many unanswered questions & disappointing.
If i knew this was YA I wouldn’t of picked it up - we follow Emily 17yo who loses her family in a accident she goes to live with her Guardian Dylan and she finds out there’s a 19yr old Ghost Tristan haunting his house who only she can see.
The last 200 pages was a drag for me, gets very cringe aswell which is probably because it was YA.
The audiobook was done well being a duet.
But unfortunately this was just not for me.. I would probably of liked it if main characters were adults not teens with “raging hormones”
And that ending 😦… so many unanswered questions & disappointing.
October 25, 2026
OH THE CLIFFHANGER!!
Emily has both feet in this world and a hand in another realm entirely. Beating death by just a hair herself, is she able to save another life? This is the test of loss, love and hope personified.
Emily has both feet in this world and a hand in another realm entirely. Beating death by just a hair herself, is she able to save another life? This is the test of loss, love and hope personified.
October 26, 2026
A teenage love story with a ghost? An inappropriate potentional love triangle? A tousle- haired boy in a black t-shirt? This one is for the Twilight girls, but go in knowing this is true YA. It reminded me of reading The Mediator series as an teen. This has allll the nostalgia for millennials who spent too much time alone in their bedrooms reading. 2006 me would have made this her entire personality.
Team Tristan.
Team Tristan.
October 27, 2026
Absolutly incredible book ! I got completely lost in it and when it ended i was searching for morr pages ! Absolutly gutted that i finished it and googled straight away if there was a duo ...which there is ...due in march 2027 I.CAN.NOT.WAIT !!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏
October 27, 2026
Oh myyy.. this book was insane!!
I need a part 2 after reading this!
So many questions!
I hope they release a 2nd book after this because I can’t be left on a cliffhanger like this lol
This book was so emotional. If you lost people you loved this can be triggering but I did enjoy reading it.
I need a part 2 after reading this!
So many questions!
I hope they release a 2nd book after this because I can’t be left on a cliffhanger like this lol
This book was so emotional. If you lost people you loved this can be triggering but I did enjoy reading it.
Read
October 21, 2026excited to read this one. Been into the paranormal/abstract romance genre for a while since the retrograde anthology so i’m hoping this one doesn’t disappoint!
Did Not Finish
October 26, 2026DNF chapter 6
October 23, 2026
Couldn’t put it down
Absolutely bloody loved it. Read it in one sitting and now going to listen to the audible whilst making a crumpet with honey.
Absolutely bloody loved it. Read it in one sitting and now going to listen to the audible whilst making a crumpet with honey.
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