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Chasing a Ghost
For eight years Combeferre has thought his best friend,
Enjolras, dead. After their attempt at revolution is quashed by the citizen king, Louis-Philippe, the young doctor learns to live with grief. That is, until he hears rumours that his friend is alive, living in anonymity outside of Paris. Expecting more disappointment, Combeferre makes it his duty to investigate, only to unwittingly set into motion a series of events that will lead his friend back into the dangerous world of Parisian politics.
Enjolras, dead. After their attempt at revolution is quashed by the citizen king, Louis-Philippe, the young doctor learns to live with grief. That is, until he hears rumours that his friend is alive, living in anonymity outside of Paris. Expecting more disappointment, Combeferre makes it his duty to investigate, only to unwittingly set into motion a series of events that will lead his friend back into the dangerous world of Parisian politics.
420 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2019
2 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
September 12, 2019
I've been following this "author" on Tumblr for a while without ever having read anything of his so I decided to give it a go when he finally released it as a book. Figured, I like ExR and historical fiction! What do I have to lose? I bet it'll be good!
I was wrong. God, I don't even know where to start. I didn't finish the book. Maybe it improves. I'll never find out.
The writing style was so obnoxious and pretentious that I could hardly pay attention to the plot. Makes me wonder if Ravenscroft has ever read anything that is actually a product of the era he aimed to write about. It was distracting and pointless. The story could've been told better in much more accessible language.
The characterization is also questionable. It makes me wonder how he's built himself a brand around cosplaying/being Enjolras because he seems to have a fundamental misunderstanding of the character. If you had changed the names I would've hardly been able to see the resemblance.
I have to admit I'm nervous writing this review because Ravenscroft has proven to respond very negatively to any criticism of himself or his work (I say this as a long-time follower who may be unfollowing soon). But the truth of the matter is, if he wants to become a stronger writer, he has to be able to take bad reviews. It comes with the territory. I hope he doesn't quit his day job.
I was wrong. God, I don't even know where to start. I didn't finish the book. Maybe it improves. I'll never find out.
The writing style was so obnoxious and pretentious that I could hardly pay attention to the plot. Makes me wonder if Ravenscroft has ever read anything that is actually a product of the era he aimed to write about. It was distracting and pointless. The story could've been told better in much more accessible language.
The characterization is also questionable. It makes me wonder how he's built himself a brand around cosplaying/being Enjolras because he seems to have a fundamental misunderstanding of the character. If you had changed the names I would've hardly been able to see the resemblance.
I have to admit I'm nervous writing this review because Ravenscroft has proven to respond very negatively to any criticism of himself or his work (I say this as a long-time follower who may be unfollowing soon). But the truth of the matter is, if he wants to become a stronger writer, he has to be able to take bad reviews. It comes with the territory. I hope he doesn't quit his day job.
August 28, 2019
I really wanted to like this book, because I used to enjoy reading Les Mis fanfiction and it's been a while since I read a canon era fic I liked, but in the end it turned out to be one of the most frustrating things I've ever read. I'm not a regular reviewer but I've been struggling with my opinions on this book ever since I finished reading it and I couldn't let my thoughts go unsaid. I can only hope that Mr Ravenscroft will bear my criticisms in mind as he writes his sequel.
The main reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 is because I can see the potential here. The basic premise of the book is interesting, and characters like Camille, Francois and Claudel prove that Mr Ravenscroft has a talent for creating characters that fit comfortably alongside canon characters from one of the most renowned works of literature of all time. Hugo's characterisation is formidable so to seamlessly place new characters alongside his is no mean feat. I don't think Mr Ravenscroft's female OCs feel nearly as well rounded so again, I hope he bears that in mind for the sequel where Marianne will be a more major character.
Onto the things I didn't like. My biggest problem with this book, and the one that meant I almost didn't even finish reading it, is the writing style. It's all too clear that Ravenscroft is trying very hard to write in a 19th century style, probably emulating Victor Hugo himself. It doesn't work. I don't know what 19th century books Mr Ravenscroft has read, but from my experience even reading Les Mis (I own the Norman Denny translation, I don't know what others are like) the writing flows properly, it feels immediate and gripping, and people do actually use contractions and modern-feeling sentence structures. Not only is Mr Ravenscroft's writing not actually representative of real classic literature I've read, but it frequently feels like he prioritised style over substance. The "19th century" tone gets in the way of any emotional connection you can have with the characters because it makes everything feel so affected, cold and clinical. Admittedly his writing isn't difficult to understand, which I like, but it's so dry that reading it feels like a slog anyway. While he's writing his sequel I would urge him to experiment more with using his natural authorial voice in order to find a balance between historical accuracy (if you can even call the tone of Chasing a Ghost "historically accurate") and interesting, readable writing.
Other things. Even as a longtime, hardcore Enjoltaire shipper I sometimes found the dynamic between them a little hard to believe. Yes, there's a big time gap between the canon events of Les Mis and the events of Chasing a Ghost during which their personalities can change and their relationship can progress, but I also think this is a book that would actually work better to someone who doesn't know Les Mis very well and is happy to just see these two unfamiliar characters in an established marriage, whereas I was constantly distracted by wondering how exactly Enjolras and Grantaire's relationship got to this point. I understand Mr Ravenscroft has written/is writing a prequel, though, and I think that's probably an invaluable source for any Les Mis fans who want to read this book and get a bit more context for how the Enjoltaire dynamic got here.
Furthermore, the humour rarely, if ever landed. I'll give Mr Ravenscroft's comedic abilities the benefit of the doubt and assume this was partly because of the writing style overexplaining and drying out potentially funny moments. Some of the symbolism and foreshadowing felt a bit heavy handed to the extent that I could completely and accurately guess some of the plot twists before they happened, which I don't think good foreshadowing should do. Overall the whole book has a bit of an atmosphere of "look how clever I am" - it frequently feels like Mr Ravenscroft is delivering all of his narration with a nudge and a wink and a "Look, do you get it, do you get it, that's CLEVER", which pulled me out of the story. I'd rather just read the book and judge it for myself without feeling like the author is lurking in the background pointing out all the bits he thinks are the best.
I do want to reassert that this criticism is all meant to be constructive. I think Mr Ravenscroft has the potential to be a good author. I also understand that seeing as this book's publication was time sensitive due to being a fundraiser he may not have had time to work through it to the absolute highest standard. But I really hope he takes a lot more time with his sequel and opens himself up to constructive criticism more (I say this having observed how defensive he appears to be about criticism on his blog) considering he is trying to brand himself as a legitimate author outside the realm of AO3 where the etiquette around constructive criticism is very different to somewhere like Goodreads. I'd actually recommend for the sequel that he finds a Beta reader or editor who isn't a friend or follower and who can give him impartial criticism from a more literary standpoint (that is, someone who can tell him honestly whether it's actually well written rather than judging it based on how many E/R feels it gives them).
Overall, this is far from the best Les Mis fanfic I've ever read, but it also isn't the worst. I borrowed my copy from a friend so I didn't put any of my own money towards it but it's not so bad that I'd feel like my money had been wasted if I'd bought my own copy. All in all it's being published for a good cause so if you want to contribute to Mr Ravenscroft's fundraiser there's no harm done in purchasing a copy and giving it a chance for yourself.
The main reason I gave this 2 stars instead of 1 is because I can see the potential here. The basic premise of the book is interesting, and characters like Camille, Francois and Claudel prove that Mr Ravenscroft has a talent for creating characters that fit comfortably alongside canon characters from one of the most renowned works of literature of all time. Hugo's characterisation is formidable so to seamlessly place new characters alongside his is no mean feat. I don't think Mr Ravenscroft's female OCs feel nearly as well rounded so again, I hope he bears that in mind for the sequel where Marianne will be a more major character.
Onto the things I didn't like. My biggest problem with this book, and the one that meant I almost didn't even finish reading it, is the writing style. It's all too clear that Ravenscroft is trying very hard to write in a 19th century style, probably emulating Victor Hugo himself. It doesn't work. I don't know what 19th century books Mr Ravenscroft has read, but from my experience even reading Les Mis (I own the Norman Denny translation, I don't know what others are like) the writing flows properly, it feels immediate and gripping, and people do actually use contractions and modern-feeling sentence structures. Not only is Mr Ravenscroft's writing not actually representative of real classic literature I've read, but it frequently feels like he prioritised style over substance. The "19th century" tone gets in the way of any emotional connection you can have with the characters because it makes everything feel so affected, cold and clinical. Admittedly his writing isn't difficult to understand, which I like, but it's so dry that reading it feels like a slog anyway. While he's writing his sequel I would urge him to experiment more with using his natural authorial voice in order to find a balance between historical accuracy (if you can even call the tone of Chasing a Ghost "historically accurate") and interesting, readable writing.
Other things. Even as a longtime, hardcore Enjoltaire shipper I sometimes found the dynamic between them a little hard to believe. Yes, there's a big time gap between the canon events of Les Mis and the events of Chasing a Ghost during which their personalities can change and their relationship can progress, but I also think this is a book that would actually work better to someone who doesn't know Les Mis very well and is happy to just see these two unfamiliar characters in an established marriage, whereas I was constantly distracted by wondering how exactly Enjolras and Grantaire's relationship got to this point. I understand Mr Ravenscroft has written/is writing a prequel, though, and I think that's probably an invaluable source for any Les Mis fans who want to read this book and get a bit more context for how the Enjoltaire dynamic got here.
Furthermore, the humour rarely, if ever landed. I'll give Mr Ravenscroft's comedic abilities the benefit of the doubt and assume this was partly because of the writing style overexplaining and drying out potentially funny moments. Some of the symbolism and foreshadowing felt a bit heavy handed to the extent that I could completely and accurately guess some of the plot twists before they happened, which I don't think good foreshadowing should do. Overall the whole book has a bit of an atmosphere of "look how clever I am" - it frequently feels like Mr Ravenscroft is delivering all of his narration with a nudge and a wink and a "Look, do you get it, do you get it, that's CLEVER", which pulled me out of the story. I'd rather just read the book and judge it for myself without feeling like the author is lurking in the background pointing out all the bits he thinks are the best.
I do want to reassert that this criticism is all meant to be constructive. I think Mr Ravenscroft has the potential to be a good author. I also understand that seeing as this book's publication was time sensitive due to being a fundraiser he may not have had time to work through it to the absolute highest standard. But I really hope he takes a lot more time with his sequel and opens himself up to constructive criticism more (I say this having observed how defensive he appears to be about criticism on his blog) considering he is trying to brand himself as a legitimate author outside the realm of AO3 where the etiquette around constructive criticism is very different to somewhere like Goodreads. I'd actually recommend for the sequel that he finds a Beta reader or editor who isn't a friend or follower and who can give him impartial criticism from a more literary standpoint (that is, someone who can tell him honestly whether it's actually well written rather than judging it based on how many E/R feels it gives them).
Overall, this is far from the best Les Mis fanfic I've ever read, but it also isn't the worst. I borrowed my copy from a friend so I didn't put any of my own money towards it but it's not so bad that I'd feel like my money had been wasted if I'd bought my own copy. All in all it's being published for a good cause so if you want to contribute to Mr Ravenscroft's fundraiser there's no harm done in purchasing a copy and giving it a chance for yourself.
August 13, 2019
perhaps this would have been better as a original fiction than a fanfic. The characters don't really resemble the ones we meet in Les Miserables, which makes me disappointed. Especially Enjolras seems out of character.
The language and some parts of it were straight up odd. There are better fanfics out there for free. Happy that I borrowed my friends version of this so I didn't lose any money at least.
Didn't finish the book, gave up halfway. Perhaps it gets better towards the end.
The language and some parts of it were straight up odd. There are better fanfics out there for free. Happy that I borrowed my friends version of this so I didn't lose any money at least.
Didn't finish the book, gave up halfway. Perhaps it gets better towards the end.
January 27, 2021
This was a highly engrossing and enjoyable read! Soon after starting this book, I cast aside all my obligations to read it, something I most certainly do not regret.
First off, this book has a great premise and I liked the author's choices for who survived the barricade and what they did afterward before being reunited.
Second, this book feels- real, it draws the reader into a tumultuous Paris just as much as the countryside surrounding it. The setting is well researched and the plot well written with some surprising twists and parallels.
However, what truly made this book stand out for me was the characters.
LGBTQ+ characters in various relationships and situations in a historical setting? Yes please.
Characters taken and expanded upon from Les Miserables? Not only do they feel true to canon, but the author has expanded upon their personalities and character arcs in wholly satisfying ways.
New characters? Fleshed out and fully realized with much potential to carry on the story.
Found family and great character development? This book has that covered.
Various ways of dealing with grief and loss of direction? I genuinely felt for the characters in this book.
Intense relationship and familial drama, miscommunication and trauma?Respectfully treated and resolved most satisfyingly.
The constant fight between political beliefs and personal obligations, as well as conflicting ideologies and the desire to do the right thing? Impressive.
If I continue, I will surely spoil something, which would be a shame for one of the many pleasures of reading this story is it's plot twists and character developments. I will suffice to say that this book tells a very good story and that I highly recommend it to everyone. I will certainly be re-reading it very soon to catch all the lovely details I missed this first go.
3.5/5 stars.
First off, this book has a great premise and I liked the author's choices for who survived the barricade and what they did afterward before being reunited.
Second, this book feels- real, it draws the reader into a tumultuous Paris just as much as the countryside surrounding it. The setting is well researched and the plot well written with some surprising twists and parallels.
However, what truly made this book stand out for me was the characters.
LGBTQ+ characters in various relationships and situations in a historical setting? Yes please.
Characters taken and expanded upon from Les Miserables? Not only do they feel true to canon, but the author has expanded upon their personalities and character arcs in wholly satisfying ways.
New characters? Fleshed out and fully realized with much potential to carry on the story.
Found family and great character development? This book has that covered.
Various ways of dealing with grief and loss of direction? I genuinely felt for the characters in this book.
Intense relationship and familial drama, miscommunication and trauma?Respectfully treated and resolved most satisfyingly.
The constant fight between political beliefs and personal obligations, as well as conflicting ideologies and the desire to do the right thing? Impressive.
If I continue, I will surely spoil something, which would be a shame for one of the many pleasures of reading this story is it's plot twists and character developments. I will suffice to say that this book tells a very good story and that I highly recommend it to everyone. I will certainly be re-reading it very soon to catch all the lovely details I missed this first go.
3.5/5 stars.
August 9, 2019
Chasing a Ghost is one of the best books I’ve ever read. If never read Les Miserables before, and historical books weren’t really my favorites. That being said once reading Chasing a Ghost my opinion has changed. This book was wonderfully written. The plot was insanely good and the story was amazing. I was so immersed in the story that I read it in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down until I was finished. This book was exciting, funny, and heartbreaking at the same time. I’m so excited for the sequel!!
August 9, 2019
It's difficult to write queer (especially trans) people in a historical setting while staying historically accurate (while LGBT+ people have always existed, the words and vocabulary have not in certain cultures), but this was written tastefully in more ways than just that.
I've read way too many historical pieces of fiction that have a) been too modern or b) have tried to hard to be historically accurate and just become unreadable. This was obviously written with knowledge of the time period/history/characters, and you can obviously tell that it was inspired but not completely copied from the Brick.
And! The kids! Many OCs in pieces like this (fiction based on another piece of art) can seem not very well fleshed out compared to the previously existing characters, because we already have a connection to them. But the kids - and the other revolutionaries - are just as well written and fleshed out as characters Victor Hugo created. You can tell a lot of time and effort went into creating realistic offspring of a politician and an artist, and I felt a connection to them I must admit I don't feel towards a lot of OCs in this type of fiction. I wouldn't have been so heartbroken over Francois' death if he hadn't been so well written that I managed to be connected to him.
The pining and obliviousness in Courfeyrac and Combeferre's relationship was an absolute balm on my soul, alright, like. Courfeyrac's growth in general was a balm. And oh, man. Adding another disaster gay revolutionary? Whom I love very much and want to know more about? Chef's kiss.
The ending managed to be hopeful even as Enjolras died. 'It is the future that we bring when tomorrow comes', right?
Also. Mean monarchist cat.
I've read way too many historical pieces of fiction that have a) been too modern or b) have tried to hard to be historically accurate and just become unreadable. This was obviously written with knowledge of the time period/history/characters, and you can obviously tell that it was inspired but not completely copied from the Brick.
And! The kids! Many OCs in pieces like this (fiction based on another piece of art) can seem not very well fleshed out compared to the previously existing characters, because we already have a connection to them. But the kids - and the other revolutionaries - are just as well written and fleshed out as characters Victor Hugo created. You can tell a lot of time and effort went into creating realistic offspring of a politician and an artist, and I felt a connection to them I must admit I don't feel towards a lot of OCs in this type of fiction. I wouldn't have been so heartbroken over Francois' death if he hadn't been so well written that I managed to be connected to him.
The pining and obliviousness in Courfeyrac and Combeferre's relationship was an absolute balm on my soul, alright, like. Courfeyrac's growth in general was a balm. And oh, man. Adding another disaster gay revolutionary? Whom I love very much and want to know more about? Chef's kiss.
The ending managed to be hopeful even as Enjolras died. 'It is the future that we bring when tomorrow comes', right?
Also. Mean monarchist cat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2019
I started reading this beautiful book when it was a half complete fanfic, and even then it was the most striking and poignant piece of writing I had read in a long time. When i found out that it would be adapted and published, I was ecstatic, but I had no clue how it could be improved, seeing as it was already so brilliant. My god was I wrong. Chasing a Ghost is hilarious, dramatic, heartbreaking and exciting all at the same time, and I can’t believe that i ever thought it would become anything less than twice as good as it already was. I’d recommend this incredible book a million times over, and read it a hundred more times. I’m in awe of Dorian and I can’t wait to read more of his extraordinary work. Well done and thank you so much.
October 17, 2019
This book is something of a sequel to Victor Hugo’s Les Misèrables but with a significant change made in that our four main protagonists (Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Enjolras, & Grantaire), who died in the original text survived in this version. It can however be read as a standalone and you would need no real knowledge of Les Misèrables in order to enjoy it.
Chasing a Ghost follows these characters and their family years after the barricade. Combeferre, refusing to accept that his closest friend, Enjolras, died in the 1832 June rebellion, discovers that the other man may be alive. He goes looking for him but is surprised at what he finds. Enjolras is here interpreted as a gay transgender man who, following the trauma of the failed insurgence and believing all his closest friends dead, disavowed the revolution and is now attempting to live peacefully with his husband and children. What follows is a combination of family and political drama, following this diverse cast of characters in the time leading up to the 1848 revolution.
Chasing a Ghost began life as a fanfiction posted on AO3, originally meant to be no more than 5 or 6 chapters. I was one of the original readers when it was first uploaded to AO3 and enjoyed every chapter. When Ravenscroft announced that he was going to be reworking Chasing a Ghost as a self-published novel I knew immediately that I had to get my hands on a copy. The finished book came out a few days after my birthday so I ordered it immediately.
I can conclude that, as much as I adored the original version, this version of Chasing a Ghost is better in every way. It has everything you might want from a historical drama: family drama, political intrigue, elements of mystery, and some beautifully written queer romance (seriously, I don’t think any of the main protagonists in the book are straight). I could barely put this book down it was so engrossing, though admittedly I had to at some points because it broke my heart .
Overall this was a fantastic book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys some historical drama, queer fiction and/or Les Misèrables. And I can’t wait for the sequel!
Content Warnings: child death, discussions of rape (no one is raped in the story but the topic comes up a few times), voluntary euthanasia, homophobia, transphobia
Chasing a Ghost follows these characters and their family years after the barricade. Combeferre, refusing to accept that his closest friend, Enjolras, died in the 1832 June rebellion, discovers that the other man may be alive. He goes looking for him but is surprised at what he finds. Enjolras is here interpreted as a gay transgender man who, following the trauma of the failed insurgence and believing all his closest friends dead, disavowed the revolution and is now attempting to live peacefully with his husband and children. What follows is a combination of family and political drama, following this diverse cast of characters in the time leading up to the 1848 revolution.
Chasing a Ghost began life as a fanfiction posted on AO3, originally meant to be no more than 5 or 6 chapters. I was one of the original readers when it was first uploaded to AO3 and enjoyed every chapter. When Ravenscroft announced that he was going to be reworking Chasing a Ghost as a self-published novel I knew immediately that I had to get my hands on a copy. The finished book came out a few days after my birthday so I ordered it immediately.
I can conclude that, as much as I adored the original version, this version of Chasing a Ghost is better in every way. It has everything you might want from a historical drama: family drama, political intrigue, elements of mystery, and some beautifully written queer romance (seriously, I don’t think any of the main protagonists in the book are straight). I could barely put this book down it was so engrossing, though admittedly I had to at some points because it broke my heart .
Overall this was a fantastic book. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys some historical drama, queer fiction and/or Les Misèrables. And I can’t wait for the sequel!
Content Warnings: child death, discussions of rape (no one is raped in the story but the topic comes up a few times), voluntary euthanasia, homophobia, transphobia
May 5, 2020
Save your money. If you're looking for les mis fanfiction, there's plenty that's better for free. The language feels forced, like a terrible imitation of Victor Hugo's writing, and is incredibly hard to read. The characterization is off, and the whole thing was not worth the price. As a trans person, I am always down for trans historical fiction but this ain't it.
Ravenscroft has built himself something of a cult of personality but this book is not worthy of the hype, save your money.
Ravenscroft has built himself something of a cult of personality but this book is not worthy of the hype, save your money.
March 23, 2020
I had followed the creation of this book when it was the creation of a fanfiction, and I have been in love with it all this time.
I could write an entire essay on this book but I don't currently have the patience, so here follows a list of vaguely connected opinions on why this is currently my favourite book.
First of all, the dedication to the setting of the novel truly shines through, from descriptions of the fashions and etiquette to the clearly described geography. This created a kind of immersion that, in my opinion, much historical fiction fails to achieve. These vivid descriptions are reminiscent of Hugo's own stylings, however without the incredibly long essays on the history of Waterloo, or the Paris sewers, which are partially to blame for modern audiences abandoning Les Miserables halfway through.
Secondly, the characterisation is spectacular. From expanding upon Hugo's relatively one dimensional (But incredibly well-loved) characters and creating complex, layered characters with unique tones and diverse opinions and the kinds of flaws that make you love and hate a character all at once. And the original characters superimposed on these preexisting relationships don't feel like afterthoughts, or as though they were created some 150 years apart. Camille feels equally as old and new as Enjolras, and vice versa. A pitfall that many authors, myself included, fall into is all characters sounding somewhat the same. However, there is none of this in Chasing a Ghost. Every character has a unique voice and style of speaking that makes their different experiences and personalities clear. Where similarities exist, it is for very good reason, (For example, Camille taking on some of the styles of Enjolras) and showcases the authors' dedication to the narrative.
Despite the fact that I have many, many, MANY other opinions, I'm going to add just one final one, that's more based in emotion than the analysis above: Seeing aspects of myself that I struggle with represented in such a personal, authentic way was one of the most cathartic experiences I have ever had while reading a book. It was so easy to relate to many of the characters because they were struggling with things that I, personally, experience on a regular basis.
In summary: I love this book with my entire heart and soul, and I am so very excited for the next instalment, and anything else that the spectacular Monsieur Ravenscroft one day goes on to publish.
I could write an entire essay on this book but I don't currently have the patience, so here follows a list of vaguely connected opinions on why this is currently my favourite book.
First of all, the dedication to the setting of the novel truly shines through, from descriptions of the fashions and etiquette to the clearly described geography. This created a kind of immersion that, in my opinion, much historical fiction fails to achieve. These vivid descriptions are reminiscent of Hugo's own stylings, however without the incredibly long essays on the history of Waterloo, or the Paris sewers, which are partially to blame for modern audiences abandoning Les Miserables halfway through.
Secondly, the characterisation is spectacular. From expanding upon Hugo's relatively one dimensional (But incredibly well-loved) characters and creating complex, layered characters with unique tones and diverse opinions and the kinds of flaws that make you love and hate a character all at once. And the original characters superimposed on these preexisting relationships don't feel like afterthoughts, or as though they were created some 150 years apart. Camille feels equally as old and new as Enjolras, and vice versa. A pitfall that many authors, myself included, fall into is all characters sounding somewhat the same. However, there is none of this in Chasing a Ghost. Every character has a unique voice and style of speaking that makes their different experiences and personalities clear. Where similarities exist, it is for very good reason, (For example, Camille taking on some of the styles of Enjolras) and showcases the authors' dedication to the narrative.
Despite the fact that I have many, many, MANY other opinions, I'm going to add just one final one, that's more based in emotion than the analysis above: Seeing aspects of myself that I struggle with represented in such a personal, authentic way was one of the most cathartic experiences I have ever had while reading a book. It was so easy to relate to many of the characters because they were struggling with things that I, personally, experience on a regular basis.
In summary: I love this book with my entire heart and soul, and I am so very excited for the next instalment, and anything else that the spectacular Monsieur Ravenscroft one day goes on to publish.
October 24, 2019
Chasing a Ghost is an excellent novel, well-written and gripping, and easy to read. I think having some prior knowledge of Les Mis can be helpful mainly when people or places from Hugo's work are mentioned, but the novel works perfectly well all on it's own and I'm definitely going to recommend it to some friends who have never seen or read Les Mis.
I thinks it's refreshing to see such a full cast of queer characters in a story that isn't just about the struggles of being queer. Enjolras is a father and a revolutionary, and he's also a gay transgender man. Combeferre is a physician who's been reunited with one best friend and is realizing that he loves his other best friend, who happens to be a man. It's nice to see queer representation where queerness is just a single facet of personhood, especially in a historical setting.
Mr. Ravenscroft is very good at expressing the tone of the story. It's very easy when reading along to feel the character's joy, and despair, and anger, and grief, and Ravenscroft had me a sobbing mess by the end of the book.
Living in a time and place when so many people have access to the internet and social media, we are able to follow authors much more closely than in the past, and it's been absolutely thrilling to witness the creation of this novel - from the early conception of the story, to the fanfiction first published online, to Ravenscroft's excitement over the edits and development of the story, and finally to the physical book lying on my coffee table. I'm so happy for what he's accomplished, happy for myself that I get to read it, and I'm already eagerly awaiting the sequel!
I thinks it's refreshing to see such a full cast of queer characters in a story that isn't just about the struggles of being queer. Enjolras is a father and a revolutionary, and he's also a gay transgender man. Combeferre is a physician who's been reunited with one best friend and is realizing that he loves his other best friend, who happens to be a man. It's nice to see queer representation where queerness is just a single facet of personhood, especially in a historical setting.
Mr. Ravenscroft is very good at expressing the tone of the story. It's very easy when reading along to feel the character's joy, and despair, and anger, and grief, and Ravenscroft had me a sobbing mess by the end of the book.
Living in a time and place when so many people have access to the internet and social media, we are able to follow authors much more closely than in the past, and it's been absolutely thrilling to witness the creation of this novel - from the early conception of the story, to the fanfiction first published online, to Ravenscroft's excitement over the edits and development of the story, and finally to the physical book lying on my coffee table. I'm so happy for what he's accomplished, happy for myself that I get to read it, and I'm already eagerly awaiting the sequel!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2019
Honestly a great novel for someone who likes Les Miserables and misses it's student revolutionary characters we all love, but it's also a good novel for someone who likes historical fiction but is disappointed at the lack of gender and sexuality and general diversity in the genre. It's Fun, it's emotional, it's sad and uplifting! It's honestly a good read and I read the bulk of it in three days stealing all the coffee breaks I could from work to do so. Kudos!
May 3, 2023
I had high expectations and this book absolutely surprised me.
The story was super interesting and breathtaking, the characters (old and new ones) were amazing and absolutely perfect.
It made me feel happy, nervous and sad..all things i wanna feel when i read a book, reading this novel made me feel the same things i felt when i read Les Mis and that was amazing.
The story was super interesting and breathtaking, the characters (old and new ones) were amazing and absolutely perfect.
It made me feel happy, nervous and sad..all things i wanna feel when i read a book, reading this novel made me feel the same things i felt when i read Les Mis and that was amazing.
September 9, 2019
Reading queer literature that made me see myself represented was absolutely amazing! On top of that this book is incredibly well written- with lovely and fluid language, solid characterization, and well researched! I absolutely recommend this to everyone!
May 20, 2020
A wonderfully gripping book! I was on the edge of my seat at times and pleasantly surprised by certain twists! The characters are well written and complex.
April 29, 2021
This book was deeply unsettling and upset me enough to prompt me to write the review. I wouldn't really consider this fanfiction, as the characters are so far from the ones in Victor Hugo's book, mostly Enjolras being completely out of character.
Grantaire's treatment of Enjolras was uncomfortable to read and often read as reproductive abuse, which doesn't seem to be the authors intent but jarring nevertheless.
The prose tried to mimic Victor Hugo's style, but failed in that regard and just came across as faux archaic and pretentious.
Would not recommend reading this book, at least not if you are easily triggered by abusive themes.
Grantaire's treatment of Enjolras was uncomfortable to read and often read as reproductive abuse, which doesn't seem to be the authors intent but jarring nevertheless.
The prose tried to mimic Victor Hugo's style, but failed in that regard and just came across as faux archaic and pretentious.
Would not recommend reading this book, at least not if you are easily triggered by abusive themes.
March 18, 2021
It was very excited when I initially purchased the book. I’ve been a Les Mis for a long, long time and was neck deep into the fan fiction part of the fandom- so this book was a dream come true. Sadly though, like other readers, I wasn’t even able to finish the book. I didn’t like the plot, writing style or the research done on the era. It was all badly put together and if I can get a refund on this, I would take it.
August 26, 2020
A "sequel" to Les Misérables, in which some of Les Amis had survived the barricades. This book is set 8 years later, and is told from the point of view of Combeferre, who finally finds Enjolras alive but in circumstances he couldn't have imagined.
#ownvoices: gay trans characters by a gay trans author!
I had read Chasing a Ghost back when it was first published on AO3 - this version is much more polished and I feel the plot works better.
I'm a big fan of retellings of Les Mis which make it more diverse. I liked how Dorian considered the different effects trauma can have when depicting each of the characters.
CW: character death, period-typical drug use.
#ownvoices: gay trans characters by a gay trans author!
I had read Chasing a Ghost back when it was first published on AO3 - this version is much more polished and I feel the plot works better.
I'm a big fan of retellings of Les Mis which make it more diverse. I liked how Dorian considered the different effects trauma can have when depicting each of the characters.
CW: character death, period-typical drug use.
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