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Ghost Walk
Ghost Walk
Maaya is a teenager who can see ghosts, and she and her three friends get by on the poor streets of Sark by sealing away troublesome spirits under the direction of a deceptive, malicious wealthy man. Accompanying them is a ghost named Saber, Maaya's long-time friend. Maaya doesn't concern herself with world affairs, focusing only on staying alive in a superstitious town that ignores her at best and wants her dead at worst - but after an entire street of people goes missing without a trace and whispers of war begin to reach her ears, Maaya decides it's time to investigate.
Maaya soon finds herself in over her head as she confronts a wave of faceless ghosts that terrify even the dead. Driven on by rumors of a mysterious weapon that can make entire cities vanish in an instant, she and Saber start their journey across the world to find out how to stop it. She begins to find new friends, powerful allies, and even love, all while being pursued by new and more dangerous enemies.
The closer she gets, however, the more she realizes that the ghosts she's after may not just be mindlessly killing innocents - and that they may be chasing her instead.
Maaya soon finds herself in over her head as she confronts a wave of faceless ghosts that terrify even the dead. Driven on by rumors of a mysterious weapon that can make entire cities vanish in an instant, she and Saber start their journey across the world to find out how to stop it. She begins to find new friends, powerful allies, and even love, all while being pursued by new and more dangerous enemies.
The closer she gets, however, the more she realizes that the ghosts she's after may not just be mindlessly killing innocents - and that they may be chasing her instead.
800 pages, Paperback
First published October 29, 2017
22 people are currently reading
1063 people want to read
About the author
Kay Solo
11 books80 followersAuthor of YA/NA sapphic fiction and fantasy, photographer, gamer, mediocre violinist, and chocolate enthusiast.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 25, 2019
I loved this book so much I did a reread a couple months after my first read and yet again, I found myself sad to finish! Ghost Walk is certainly all I've written below (amazing, awe-inspiring, funny, etc), but I didn't touch upon how hopeful it truly is. Hope and found family are both huge themes in this book and that is something we need more of in this world (especially now in this current climate).
As I was finishing my reread, I was smiling so hard, with tears in my eyes, just completely happy this book (and these characters) exists.
•— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •—
It comes as no surprise that I've rated Ghost Walk five amazing 🌟's, what with the wild emotional and fantastical ride that I was taken in these 800 pages. It's 800 pages worth of so much happening and so much character development and I never once felt like I was trudging along because I was so immersed in this story. The world-building is great, okay. People who are able to see ghosts and use the power of libris which in short is a magical way to seal ghosts and is so COOL!
Where do I even start?
Perhaps with Maaya Sahni--- one of the most well-written female character that I have had the pleasure of reading. She is only seventeen but had the world on her small shoulders, what with being able to see ghosts in a town where that gift is seen as a curse. Yet she continues on, even when she was so afraid for herself and her friends. She continued on even when forces beyond her control pushed her away through fear and hatred. Her bravery spoke to me so much, especially since her anxieties were explored so well as she communicated her fears to her friends. She contained multitudes within her and all I wanted was for everything to work out and for her to be wholly happy in her dreams of settling with her friends in a safe home. The friendships in it of itself really got to me. They were so well-written and powerful! The different voices for the cast of ghosts, pirates, friends, and everyone in between was brilliant.
How about Saber? With her hilarious but completely and utterly sappy self? And her amazing friendships with Maaya and the Ghost Hunters?
Maaya's friendship with Saber was so great to read and to experience because they really build themselves up and helped each other when needed i.e whenever Maaya needed a wingwoman or a great tough-love speech. Honestly, Maaya's friendships with Kim, Kalil and Sovaan a.k.a the Ghost Hunters, as well with Roshan, Adelaide and everyone else that she meets in her mission fell underneath the purest found-family trope ever and the found-family trope has to be my absolute favorite trope! Plus, the idea of kindness interspersed in the narrative to give Maaya hope even when it felt like there was none was so so so sweet to read. That's not to say I didn't shed a few tears... especially when I realized that I finished Ghost Walk. There was the perfect amount of angst and surprise mixed in with silliness and clutching-my-phone-to-my-chest-feels. And that leads to Adelaide Sol.
Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide. A bright sunshine that compliments strangers to befriend people and not be so shy. She's tall and confident, even when she's faking it. She's blunt and Captain of LSV Windfire. And SUCH a great friend to Maaya and Saber. I love her, let me just leave it at that!
Let me just add Rahu, the bane of my existence. We are showed how men like Rahu are the Worst because of the way they use their speech to negatively influence and sway people's minds/opinions. It was despicable how he understood people, used that understanding to capitalize on their fears and manipulated others to do his bidding. Here's something to hint as to his fate...
ALSO! No plot point is forgotten, every loose thread is tied up somehow, which I really liked. It's so clever and interesting. The only con I can think of is a couple of editing/spelling mistakes within the book. Plus a couple repetitive adverbs but it didn't minimize my enjoyment so it doesn't lose points for that, in my opinion. An addition to this: Kay Solo went back and made some edits based on comments made in reviews! I'm pretty glad she did so.
I'm not going to be leaving the world of Ghost Walk any time soon. And I'm not even sure I want to! I fell in love with the characters and the story, there's nothing better than that when it comes to reading!
And a couple of one liners from my status updates because why not: "shookth" "MY HEART" "oh man oh man oh MAN"
Addition: I'm including a neat-o graphic I made because it kind of makes me happy and excited :') I just love this book so much that I had to create this for tumblr!
As I was finishing my reread, I was smiling so hard, with tears in my eyes, just completely happy this book (and these characters) exists.
•— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •— •—
It comes as no surprise that I've rated Ghost Walk five amazing 🌟's, what with the wild emotional and fantastical ride that I was taken in these 800 pages. It's 800 pages worth of so much happening and so much character development and I never once felt like I was trudging along because I was so immersed in this story. The world-building is great, okay. People who are able to see ghosts and use the power of libris which in short is a magical way to seal ghosts and is so COOL!
Where do I even start?
Perhaps with Maaya Sahni--- one of the most well-written female character that I have had the pleasure of reading. She is only seventeen but had the world on her small shoulders, what with being able to see ghosts in a town where that gift is seen as a curse. Yet she continues on, even when she was so afraid for herself and her friends. She continued on even when forces beyond her control pushed her away through fear and hatred. Her bravery spoke to me so much, especially since her anxieties were explored so well as she communicated her fears to her friends. She contained multitudes within her and all I wanted was for everything to work out and for her to be wholly happy in her dreams of settling with her friends in a safe home. The friendships in it of itself really got to me. They were so well-written and powerful! The different voices for the cast of ghosts, pirates, friends, and everyone in between was brilliant.
How about Saber? With her hilarious but completely and utterly sappy self? And her amazing friendships with Maaya and the Ghost Hunters?
“Just curious: what happens when a ghost goes into a living room?”Seriously, this is just one out of plenty quality jokes that happen when the Ghost Hunters and Saber connect.
The whole world could be burnt to ash and I wouldn’t be bothered, but… there are some people I’d prefer to stay alive, you know.” Saber got up before Maaya could answer, then floated quickly through the wall and out of sight. Maaya’s smile didn’t leave her face as she started getting dressed for the evening.
Maaya's friendship with Saber was so great to read and to experience because they really build themselves up and helped each other when needed i.e whenever Maaya needed a wingwoman or a great tough-love speech. Honestly, Maaya's friendships with Kim, Kalil and Sovaan a.k.a the Ghost Hunters, as well with Roshan, Adelaide and everyone else that she meets in her mission fell underneath the purest found-family trope ever and the found-family trope has to be my absolute favorite trope! Plus, the idea of kindness interspersed in the narrative to give Maaya hope even when it felt like there was none was so so so sweet to read. That's not to say I didn't shed a few tears... especially when I realized that I finished Ghost Walk. There was the perfect amount of angst and surprise mixed in with silliness and clutching-my-phone-to-my-chest-feels. And that leads to Adelaide Sol.
“Maaya,” Adelaide said warmly, and Maaya thought she had never heard her own name spoken in such a pleasant voice.
Adelaide, Adelaide, Adelaide. A bright sunshine that compliments strangers to befriend people and not be so shy. She's tall and confident, even when she's faking it. She's blunt and Captain of LSV Windfire. And SUCH a great friend to Maaya and Saber. I love her, let me just leave it at that!
Let me just add Rahu, the bane of my existence. We are showed how men like Rahu are the Worst because of the way they use their speech to negatively influence and sway people's minds/opinions. It was despicable how he understood people, used that understanding to capitalize on their fears and manipulated others to do his bidding. Here's something to hint as to his fate...
Adelaide whistled. “Oh, Maaya, that is beautiful. I do believe that qualifies as poetic justice.”
ALSO! No plot point is forgotten, every loose thread is tied up somehow, which I really liked. It's so clever and interesting. The only con I can think of is a couple of editing/spelling mistakes within the book. Plus a couple repetitive adverbs but it didn't minimize my enjoyment so it doesn't lose points for that, in my opinion. An addition to this: Kay Solo went back and made some edits based on comments made in reviews! I'm pretty glad she did so.
I'm not going to be leaving the world of Ghost Walk any time soon. And I'm not even sure I want to! I fell in love with the characters and the story, there's nothing better than that when it comes to reading!
And a couple of one liners from my status updates because why not: "shookth" "MY HEART" "oh man oh man oh MAN"
Addition: I'm including a neat-o graphic I made because it kind of makes me happy and excited :') I just love this book so much that I had to create this for tumblr!
August 3, 2018
First and foremost, don’t be freaked out by the page count; this is a fun, adventurous, and emotional ride that will leave the reader wanting more.
The story centers on Maaya, who has the ability to see ghosts. In her hometown of Sark, she and her three friends (who are also gifted with seeing ghosts) and their ghost friend by the name of Saber are collectively known as “The Ghost Hunters”, and are dispatched to deal with troublesome spirits by Rahu, a respected member of the town (more on him later), in exchange for food and board. On one of their nightly excursions, they learn of strange disappearances that have been happening sporadically (including an entire street of people in one night). The friends soon discover that the culprits behind these disappearances are nameless and faceless ghosts, that terrify both the living and the dead alike. It is up to them to put a stop to these waves attacks when they become more and more frequent. After a series in events culminates in Maaya and Saber being forced to leave Sark or face death from a town that is both superstitious and riding on a wave of mass hysteria, as the residents believe that it is Maaya that is somehow the cause of these faceless ghosts attacking the town. Maaya decides that it is up to get to the bottom of what is causing these ghosts to appear, to not only clear her name, but also save her friends from a fate worse than death.
The characters are well fleshed out, each with their own unique and stand out personality, and as memorable as the last. To name but a few: Maaya: The heroine of the story. She is a 17 year old girl with the ability to see ghosts. She is also an outcast and openly shunned her in her hometown for her unique ability (as Sark is openly superstitious and looks suspiciously on things that they do not understand). Despite the hardships that she has had to face throughout her life, she is a kindhearted and generous leader of the Ghost Hunters, and always puts her family first. Saber: Maaya’s best friend and confidant, and also the main ghost of the story. She is one that gives Maaya advice and needed strength in times of need; she is also a bit of the comic relief in the novel, adding her two cents to conversations when she is certain that people are not able to see her as well as adding her own commentary and remarks. She has no memory of her living life. Rahu: A rich and respected member of Sark and the one that procures the jobs for the Ghost Hunters. Though from the outside he seems to be one that is helping the Ghost Hunters with food and a house to live in, he does not do this out of charity or even the goodness of his heart. Rather, he does this for his own gain: Though the Ghost Hunters do the work, Rahu is the one that gets the credit for getting rid of troublesome spirits (as the townspeople will turn to him in times of need in an almost cultish manner). We are made aware from the onset of Rahu’s true character. Adelaide: The captain of the LSV Windfire that helps Maaya reach her destination, and is Maaya’s love interest. (yup, there’s a f/f romance!) She is headstrong, brave, and one that, like Maaya, always puts family and friends first. Among her amazing crew members are Inga (her second in command), Halvar (he at times also provides a bit of comic relief to the story), and Gunnar.
The novel touches on and explores the themes of prejudice (specifically how the town of Sark shuns and vilifies Maaya and anyone who possess the ability to see ghosts), the importance of finding and holding onto self confidence and self worth (throughout her journey, there are times in which Maaya questions if she can put a stop to the faceless ghosts. It’s also made apparent that because of her time in dealing with Rahu, Maaya’s confidence and self worth have been dragged through the mud, as Rahu would constantly tell Maaya that all that she has and is able to provide is because of him. Without him, they would all be on the streets starving). But an important theme throughout is the love and strength of a found family. Though most of the characters are not blood related (Maaya, her three friends, and Saber as well as Adelaide and her crew members), the bonds that are forged are iron clad.
All in all, there isn’t just one stand out moment, but many stand out moments and that’s what makes the novel so special and such a treat to read. It’s one that I cannot recommend enough! A fantasy/adventure novel with ghosts, a battle on the high seas, elements of steampunk, and a realistic f/f romance; what more could one ask for?
The story centers on Maaya, who has the ability to see ghosts. In her hometown of Sark, she and her three friends (who are also gifted with seeing ghosts) and their ghost friend by the name of Saber are collectively known as “The Ghost Hunters”, and are dispatched to deal with troublesome spirits by Rahu, a respected member of the town (more on him later), in exchange for food and board. On one of their nightly excursions, they learn of strange disappearances that have been happening sporadically (including an entire street of people in one night). The friends soon discover that the culprits behind these disappearances are nameless and faceless ghosts, that terrify both the living and the dead alike. It is up to them to put a stop to these waves attacks when they become more and more frequent. After a series in events culminates in Maaya and Saber being forced to leave Sark or face death from a town that is both superstitious and riding on a wave of mass hysteria, as the residents believe that it is Maaya that is somehow the cause of these faceless ghosts attacking the town. Maaya decides that it is up to get to the bottom of what is causing these ghosts to appear, to not only clear her name, but also save her friends from a fate worse than death.
The characters are well fleshed out, each with their own unique and stand out personality, and as memorable as the last. To name but a few: Maaya: The heroine of the story. She is a 17 year old girl with the ability to see ghosts. She is also an outcast and openly shunned her in her hometown for her unique ability (as Sark is openly superstitious and looks suspiciously on things that they do not understand). Despite the hardships that she has had to face throughout her life, she is a kindhearted and generous leader of the Ghost Hunters, and always puts her family first. Saber: Maaya’s best friend and confidant, and also the main ghost of the story. She is one that gives Maaya advice and needed strength in times of need; she is also a bit of the comic relief in the novel, adding her two cents to conversations when she is certain that people are not able to see her as well as adding her own commentary and remarks. She has no memory of her living life. Rahu: A rich and respected member of Sark and the one that procures the jobs for the Ghost Hunters. Though from the outside he seems to be one that is helping the Ghost Hunters with food and a house to live in, he does not do this out of charity or even the goodness of his heart. Rather, he does this for his own gain: Though the Ghost Hunters do the work, Rahu is the one that gets the credit for getting rid of troublesome spirits (as the townspeople will turn to him in times of need in an almost cultish manner). We are made aware from the onset of Rahu’s true character. Adelaide: The captain of the LSV Windfire that helps Maaya reach her destination, and is Maaya’s love interest. (yup, there’s a f/f romance!) She is headstrong, brave, and one that, like Maaya, always puts family and friends first. Among her amazing crew members are Inga (her second in command), Halvar (he at times also provides a bit of comic relief to the story), and Gunnar.
The novel touches on and explores the themes of prejudice (specifically how the town of Sark shuns and vilifies Maaya and anyone who possess the ability to see ghosts), the importance of finding and holding onto self confidence and self worth (throughout her journey, there are times in which Maaya questions if she can put a stop to the faceless ghosts. It’s also made apparent that because of her time in dealing with Rahu, Maaya’s confidence and self worth have been dragged through the mud, as Rahu would constantly tell Maaya that all that she has and is able to provide is because of him. Without him, they would all be on the streets starving). But an important theme throughout is the love and strength of a found family. Though most of the characters are not blood related (Maaya, her three friends, and Saber as well as Adelaide and her crew members), the bonds that are forged are iron clad.
All in all, there isn’t just one stand out moment, but many stand out moments and that’s what makes the novel so special and such a treat to read. It’s one that I cannot recommend enough! A fantasy/adventure novel with ghosts, a battle on the high seas, elements of steampunk, and a realistic f/f romance; what more could one ask for?
August 17, 2018
I'm a little late, but I wanted to add a review to this rating. I'm not really stingy with my five-star reviews but this book really deserved it. There may be mild spoilers here.
Things I Liked
-The romance. It was a nice and natural slow-ish burn, and a really sweet addition to the story. It was nice watching them progress and find themselves and their strength and trust in each other.
-Its discussion of serious and contemporary issues, from power dynamics in relationships to the portrayal of mental health and poverty vs wealth and what that can do to a person. For example, when Adelaide comments how it's amazing Maaya hasn't burned out when Maaya just wants to say she burned out a long time ago, or when Maaya feels a surge of anxiety and guilt every time the issue of money comes up. Or even when Maaya wants to wait to confess her crush until after they leave the ship so there's no captain/guest dynamic.
-The nuance of issues. When Maaya feels conflicted about going back to Sark to stop Rahu, she and another character discuss how "Evil and those who fight it are not the same simply because they employ many of the same tools." It's very relevant to make that distinction and there was a lot of hashing things out in this book without coming off as preachy.
-The character mistakes. I actually really liked that the characters were allowed to mess up and that their mistakes didn't miraculously end up working out. Sometimes they did, sometimes they got people killed, and everything in between. It made them feel very normal, which was a nice reminder that these were just teenagers trying to save the world.
-The character development and voices. The way everyone grew and the unique voices for everyone was wonderful. This includes Rahu, who was actually an amazing villain. He was so good at his gaslighting that I had to stop and go back to re-read what he'd said before to make sure my memory was working. He was an ordinary man with no power but he was very, very good at what he did.
-The detail. It's ~350k words long, it's going to have detail. But I had no trouble seeing this world and its people, which made the immersion so strong. It was descriptive and beautiful without being Tolkein-esque or dry.
Things I Wanted More Of
-I would have loved to see more about the Blackfins and their history and how Adelaide came to join them. They were a secretive but powerful organization, and I understand knowledge was limited because the story was limited to Maaya's perspective, but exploring that would have been so interesting. (Maybe in hopes of a prequel...)
-More of the history of Adelaide, Maaya, and the Ghost Hunters. The book started in a good place, but it's clear there were many adventures happening before the first chapter. I'd love to know what precipitated Adelaide leaving her family, Maaya discovering libris, Adelaide's first voyage or battle at sea or meeting Skarin, Maaya meeting Styx and Sylvia and how they shaped their view on befriending some ghosts rather than getting rid of them all.
These things didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story, it's more that it'd be nice to be able to explore every facet of this world, because it was huge in terms of size, politics, history, etc.
It's long, but a great YA read with positive representation of so many things, skillful handling of serious issues, and a riveting story and cute romance.
Things I Liked
-The romance. It was a nice and natural slow-ish burn, and a really sweet addition to the story. It was nice watching them progress and find themselves and their strength and trust in each other.
-Its discussion of serious and contemporary issues, from power dynamics in relationships to the portrayal of mental health and poverty vs wealth and what that can do to a person. For example, when Adelaide comments how it's amazing Maaya hasn't burned out when Maaya just wants to say she burned out a long time ago, or when Maaya feels a surge of anxiety and guilt every time the issue of money comes up. Or even when Maaya wants to wait to confess her crush until after they leave the ship so there's no captain/guest dynamic.
-The nuance of issues. When Maaya feels conflicted about going back to Sark to stop Rahu, she and another character discuss how "Evil and those who fight it are not the same simply because they employ many of the same tools." It's very relevant to make that distinction and there was a lot of hashing things out in this book without coming off as preachy.
-The character mistakes. I actually really liked that the characters were allowed to mess up and that their mistakes didn't miraculously end up working out. Sometimes they did, sometimes they got people killed, and everything in between. It made them feel very normal, which was a nice reminder that these were just teenagers trying to save the world.
-The character development and voices. The way everyone grew and the unique voices for everyone was wonderful. This includes Rahu, who was actually an amazing villain. He was so good at his gaslighting that I had to stop and go back to re-read what he'd said before to make sure my memory was working. He was an ordinary man with no power but he was very, very good at what he did.
-The detail. It's ~350k words long, it's going to have detail. But I had no trouble seeing this world and its people, which made the immersion so strong. It was descriptive and beautiful without being Tolkein-esque or dry.
Things I Wanted More Of
-I would have loved to see more about the Blackfins and their history and how Adelaide came to join them. They were a secretive but powerful organization, and I understand knowledge was limited because the story was limited to Maaya's perspective, but exploring that would have been so interesting. (Maybe in hopes of a prequel...)
-More of the history of Adelaide, Maaya, and the Ghost Hunters. The book started in a good place, but it's clear there were many adventures happening before the first chapter. I'd love to know what precipitated Adelaide leaving her family, Maaya discovering libris, Adelaide's first voyage or battle at sea or meeting Skarin, Maaya meeting Styx and Sylvia and how they shaped their view on befriending some ghosts rather than getting rid of them all.
These things didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story, it's more that it'd be nice to be able to explore every facet of this world, because it was huge in terms of size, politics, history, etc.
It's long, but a great YA read with positive representation of so many things, skillful handling of serious issues, and a riveting story and cute romance.
November 7, 2017
I loved so much about this. I admit I started it mostly because I wanted a girl/girl love story that wasn't cliche and full of drama, but I got sucked into the rest, too. There's just so much to like. Ghosts and magic and pirates and love, and it's a nice mix of serious and silly so it doesn't get too dark. It was long but definitely worth the read. I only wish the romance started a little sooner but there's still plenty of it.
May 25, 2022
*4.5
i need a drink
i need a drink
January 21, 2022
This is a YA steampunk fantasy adventure that’s as sweet as it is long. I have to admit I skimmed through a good part of the middle because I desperately wanted to know what the heck was going on with the creepy ghosts, the one’s causing all the mayhem. There were lots of fun ghosts in the story too, along with magic and swashbuckling pirates. This begs to be made into a graphic novel - with the right artwork it would be fantastic.
My thanks to the author and Goodreads Giveaways for a copy to review.
February 10, 2018
Phenomenal characters and a story worth sticking around for. Don't let the length worry you, you'll gobble this thing in no time. It's addicting from the very first chapter. I look forward to more work from Solo. May the Force be with her.
February 28, 2018
Stunning
Epic in scope, wonderfully written, and full of fantastic world building. And that doesn't even start to talk about how flippin' sweet the romance is! Highly recommended!
Epic in scope, wonderfully written, and full of fantastic world building. And that doesn't even start to talk about how flippin' sweet the romance is! Highly recommended!
October 12, 2018
You can read my full review here!
January 1, 2025
First things first: WHOOO! 800 pages down. > I deserve a trophy or, at the very least, a badge of honor ;) IYKYK
Warning: Mild spoilers ahead—nothing major, but proceed at your own peril.
Now, let’s dive in: This book was a ride, and not the smooth kind—more like one of those old wooden roller coasters where you scream, laugh, and occasionally wonder if you’re going to fly out of your seat.
The real MVPs of this story? The characters. Best girl Saber stole the show, there’s a racist ghost (PC??), and don’t even get me started on Chronis, the mechanical spider with more personality than some humans I know. (Seriously, how does he work? I demand a spin-off.)
Kay Solo is a world-building wizard. The tiny town of Sark at the start feels so small, so isolated, you almost get cabin fever yourself. Then BAM! The rest of the world explodes into view, so vibrant and alive. Experiencing that shift through Mayaa’s eyes was magic.
Mayaa’s hero’s journey hit me right in the feels. This is a girl you root for. And don’t even try to tell me you’re not here for the slow-burn sapphic romance (WITH A PIRATE CAPTAIN). That subplot alone is worth the price of admission. I cried—a lot. Despair, hope, politics, and bigotry? Check, check, check, and check. But the shining thread throughout was hope. Hope in the face of darkness, and the love and loyalty of friends.
So why isn’t this a five-star review? (4.5 stars, though, so close!) A few nitpicks: sometimes the internal monologues overstayed their welcome, like that one party guest who doesn’t pick up on social cues. And while I love a tidy ending, every loose end got tied up a little too neatly—like the author was Marie Kondo-ing her plotlines. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did leave me wishing for a smidge more messiness.
Still, this book deserves way more attention than it’s getting. If anything in this review sparks your interest, don’t let the page count scare you off. I’m already lining up the companion novella and sequel because I’m not done with this world yet.
Final verdict? Read it. Just make sure to hydrate—you’ll need those tears for fuel.
ALSO here's a visual I made :)
Warning: Mild spoilers ahead—nothing major, but proceed at your own peril.
Now, let’s dive in: This book was a ride, and not the smooth kind—more like one of those old wooden roller coasters where you scream, laugh, and occasionally wonder if you’re going to fly out of your seat.
The real MVPs of this story? The characters. Best girl Saber stole the show, there’s a racist ghost (PC??), and don’t even get me started on Chronis, the mechanical spider with more personality than some humans I know. (Seriously, how does he work? I demand a spin-off.)
Kay Solo is a world-building wizard. The tiny town of Sark at the start feels so small, so isolated, you almost get cabin fever yourself. Then BAM! The rest of the world explodes into view, so vibrant and alive. Experiencing that shift through Mayaa’s eyes was magic.
Mayaa’s hero’s journey hit me right in the feels. This is a girl you root for. And don’t even try to tell me you’re not here for the slow-burn sapphic romance (WITH A PIRATE CAPTAIN). That subplot alone is worth the price of admission. I cried—a lot. Despair, hope, politics, and bigotry? Check, check, check, and check. But the shining thread throughout was hope. Hope in the face of darkness, and the love and loyalty of friends.
So why isn’t this a five-star review? (4.5 stars, though, so close!) A few nitpicks: sometimes the internal monologues overstayed their welcome, like that one party guest who doesn’t pick up on social cues. And while I love a tidy ending, every loose end got tied up a little too neatly—like the author was Marie Kondo-ing her plotlines. It didn’t ruin the experience, but it did leave me wishing for a smidge more messiness.
Still, this book deserves way more attention than it’s getting. If anything in this review sparks your interest, don’t let the page count scare you off. I’m already lining up the companion novella and sequel because I’m not done with this world yet.
Final verdict? Read it. Just make sure to hydrate—you’ll need those tears for fuel.
ALSO here's a visual I made :)
November 16, 2020
I don't read books longer than 300 pages very often... but Ghost Walk was truly something special. It made me smile so much. The way Maaya grows throughout the novel, while dealing with trauma, manipulation, perseverance, and gay WLW fluff, (and GHOSTS, and MAGIC, and ) is so truly wonderful to read.
I have more feelings about this book, but I don't feel like my words can really do it justice; I think that anyone even remotely intrigued by the premise should just give it a shot!
I have more feelings about this book, but I don't feel like my words can really do it justice; I think that anyone even remotely intrigued by the premise should just give it a shot!
July 27, 2020
Didn't think I'd finish it, but I did. It took over 2 years, as it was my go-to ebook when I don't have other books around me. That is not to say that this isn't a good book at all. Very interesting setting, a fantastic plot sprinkled with exciting twists, and great characters, so many of them. Some parts were rather long winded and slow, but I suppose it's part of the character build-ups. All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Oh and I can totally imagine this being an absolutely thrilling movie to watch.
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