I love finding new authors that have created worlds and characters that keep the pages turning. Ghost's Dilemma was definitely one of those books. I did blunder a little though, because when I picked up this one, I didn't realize that it was the 2nd book in Morwen Navarre's Witch's Apprentice series. I somehow missed Ghost's Sight, but that's okay. It really just added another book to my TBR pile ;)

I've admitted before that sometimes it takes a while for me to wrap my head around Dystopian worlds. For some reason, I didn't really have that problem with Ghost's Dilemma. I also didn't feel lost, even though I'd inadvertently skipped the first book in the series. I do want to go back and read Ghost's Sight though and see where Gerry and Ghost's story began.

There was so much to love about Ghost's Dilemma. I loved the relationship between Gerry and Ghost. I loved both Ghost and Gerry's sense of right, wrong and equality between each other and members of their community. Not everyone around them had that same moral compass. No relationship is perfect though and even though Ghost and Gerry's was stronger than most, they still had a few things to work out. Ghost also has some tough decisions to make and he doesn't have time to waste because it really was a matter of life and death.

The world that Morwen Navarre has created for Witch's Apprentice was interesting. I loved the mix of their present and our present. Confusing, I know, but within the story, it really worked well. There were some interesting twists and turns mixed with some mystery and sweet romance. I can't wait to go back to Ghost's Sight. I also wouldn't mind seeing Ghost and Gerry's story continue.

While this story was fine, it wasn't until over 60% into the book that I became fully invested in the story.

Before that were all of the pages about Ghost discovering an illness in the village and trying to come up with a cure. I found these early parts of the book fairly boring and hard to care much about.

Then came word of a possible cure very far away in the Northlands, where Ghost's mentor, the Witch, had recently left to roam.

Once Ghost boarded the secret, underground transportation to the Northlands, my attention had officially been grabbed.

The series had previously taken place in what I'd consider a pre-industrial era setting, with everyone being hunters and gatherers, wearing pelts and drying meats to survive the harsh winters.

Then suddenly... [SPOILERS AHEAD] there was talk of mysterious, magical devices called centrifuges and traveling aboard a high-speed train, complete with computerized kiosks that prepare meals on demand.

And HOLY SHIT, suddenly you realized that they were most likely on future Earth, after some type of enormous disaster, and that the "ruins" were actually crumbling, ancient human cities. [END SPOILERS]

#MindSlightlyBlownFolks

Once Ghost is in the Northlands, I couldn't put the book down, wanting to know every little detail as soon as possible.

One of my very favorite parts was the addition of 9 y.o. Egill, another pale-haired, northern boy who, like Ghost, had "the sight". He was a smart little guy and played a huge help in providing the cure to the epidemic killing people in Ghost and Gerry's village.

As far as the romance goes, Ghost and Gerry had formalized their mate status, but there wasn't a lot of new ground covered here that wasn't covered in book 1.

In regards to steamy scenes, there were a few, but they felt entirely unnecessary to me in this particular story. I found myself automatically skimming past every page where the pene came out to play. For me, sex doesn't automatically equate to deep feelings, and it felt like a distraction here, so meh.

I would love to read the follow-up story of Ghost, Gerry and Egill's little family, as they grow and face upcoming challenges.

I'd rate this story at around 3.5 stars, mostly because the first 60+% of the story didn't really grab me.

Six Word Summary: Gripping sequel which shows us more of the world and the characters we love.

My Thoughts: Once again I really enjoyed the world building and story telling of Morwen Navarre’s Witch’s Apprentice series. Where Ghost’s Sight was sweet and short, Ghost’s Dilemma, expands upon the world and offers a more in depth look and exploration of the characters.

Ghost’s Dilemma sees readers return to the world Ghost and Gerry as they move forward with their lives. In the time since the first book, the pair have settled down, moved into a new house, and become more comfortable in their respective positions within the village. It’s really quite nice getting to see the comfort and domestic fluff of the pair before the real drama of the novel starts.

Where the first book sets up the social hierarchy of the village, the second provides more insight into the world of Alphas, Dependants, Mates, and Witches. Whereas Ghost’s Sight set up the idea of Alphas being the providers and protectors of their Dependants, Ghost’s Dilemma explores and provides a further look into Mates and the otherness of Witches. It was really nice seeing Gerry defer to Ghost and treat him more as an equal in the relationship, especially when compared to other relationships within the novel.

The plot of Ghost’s Dilemma sees Ghost tested as a Witch and healer, as he struggles to cure an epidemic that has spread throughout his village. I really enjoyed seeing a more assertive and in charger characterisation of Ghost. The same with Gerry, we see him come to terms with his relationship with Ghost and how they fit as Alpha and Mate.

Ghost’s Dilemma also expands upon and explores more of the surrounding world. I loved seeing the land of the ‘Witch’s Apprentice’ in a larger scope. To be given more information about the larger environment, landscape, and other societies within the world was great! I loved being slowly offered glimpses and more information about ‘ancient’ technologies and trying to figure out the modern day equivalents.

Best Bits:

Gerry and Ghost are still adorable. Where Ghost’s Sight was focused on their pair meeting and falling in love, this novel expands upon their relationship and sees them working together as a couple. It was really nice seeing this extension of their relationship.

The blurring of genres. When I first wrote the read Ghost’s Sight, I wasn’t sure if I would class the book as fantasy or paranormal one. The world is set sometime after an advanced civilisation has fallen and while it definitely reads like a fantasy novel with the villages, magic, and forests appearing in the book, it really has a paranormal ‘psychic’ vibe. It’s great reading the novel and experiencing the fantasy angle, but after you’ve put it down, thinking of it as a paranormal one.

A third book! On goodreads, Navarre has stated that she is working on the third book of the series. So I will be eagerly looking out for that book when it becomes available 🙂

Favourite Quote: (graphic)
'You're this villages witch, even if you're my Ghost. I can't hold you back from what you need to do.'

Recommendations: As this is a second book, I would really recommend checking out the first book first, but if you like fantasy romance novels, I would definitely give this book a go! While I have stated above it is a paranormal book, if you are a fan of either, I would really recommend picking the series up.