By Andi C. Buchanan
Published April 2022
311 Pages
I’ll jump straight into the blurb: Morgan has created a home for herself in what remains of a once-grand estate, now a dilapidated house surrounded by townhomes. But it’s perfect for its occupants – a group of neurodivergent friends who, like the house, don’t quite fit into modern society. In addition to being a refuge for people, the house is a place where ghosts are safe and respected. Morgan and her crew welcome all ghosts who need a sanctuary and do their best to keep the ghost hunters out.
Everything goes haywire when a stranger drops off a crate of bottled ghosts and Morgan unwittingly releases an evil entity known as the Ghost Eater. Not only are the ghosts in danger, but so are Morgan’s corporal family.
There was a lot to love about this book. The way the occupants of the house built a life for themselves that worked for their own particular issues and quirks, and for the way that ghosts are treated with the same respect afforded to the living. The theme of found family was well presented and beautiful.
I also appreciated that this novel was written from Morgan’s point of view. I’m not sure if it’s a coincidence that I’ve read several novels lately presented from a neurodivergent point of view or if it’s becoming more prevalent, but I appreciate the opportunity to widen my own perspective.
One of the things I had issues with was, oddly, the point of view. Often, Morgan went into her own head and I read how she perceived events rather than the author showing the said events. For example, important dialogue would take place and I’m told how Morgan reacts to it, but the actual dialogue isn’t provided so I wasn’t able to make up my own mind about what was happening. This was particularly problematic during the main fight scene – I couldn’t follow the action because the narrator kept dipping into her own thoughts rather than showing in a coherent fashion what was happening. It made for a disjointed and unmemorable scene.
Lastly, there were so many characters (both corporeal and ghosts) that they were hard to keep track off. Once they’d all been firmly established, the author didn’t flesh the living occupants out beyond their disabilities. I wondered if a few couldn’t have been combined and presented beyond a surface level.
This was an enjoyable story but I felt the execution fell short. I rated it 2.5 stars. ⭐⭐+
Thank you to BookSirens for providing the ARC of this novel. I’ve left my review voluntarily and honestly.
Until next time, thank you for visiting.
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