I had a challenge of getting hooked into this book - I don't know if that is the fault of the book or myself. In many ways, all the odds are in the favor of Ghostcloud - great worldbuilding, characters filled with strong personalities, and a villain so easy to root against! That said, it felt like something was lacking that would make this book a 5 star read. I do wish I could write more about it but I can't even quite put my finger on why this book felt slightly off to me - it may have been the magic or the setting - but I really can't.

In the end, I liked this book well enough!! I would give it 3.5 stars and I am intrigued to see where this story goes. And while I did not dive in as I hoped I would, I believe there are many young readers out there who would enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGallet and the publishers for a copy of this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

This is a very imaginative and special approach to a scary story about ghosts. The conversation is clever and funny, and the plot also has some calm and reflective parts with Luke's relatives. This is an amazing story about a boy who fought hard to become free, even when it seemed impossible. I really love how Mann changed London to look like a steampunk world. I really enjoyed the dark and gloomy atmosphere of the book, and I thought the characters were enjoyable and entertaining. The story idea was very intriguing, and there was a lot of excitement and it was a quick book to read. I really liked the mysterious parts of the story and how everything was figured out at the end.

Omg, this was an excellent read. It was fast-paced and very adventurous. The story and characters are well written, especially Luke. The story was fun but also a little bit spooky and sad at times. Luke's journey was very adventurous. I totally would recommend this book!

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this novel.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher. Intriguing middle grade story and I hope it becomes a series. I enjoyed it and I will recommend to my friends and family.

I don't know what it is about middle grade books that involve adults being absolute trash that I just inevitability love them, but here we are again with that same trope and I loved it.

Ghostcloud follows Luke a boy who was kidnapped and forced to work in this underground location in London, shoveling coal into furnaces. Immediately my mind was like "excuse me. why are these children doing this, are they hostages what is even going on??!" It doesn't take long for the story to devolve what is going on and why he is there and its the weirdest string of events, and immediately I was like "yes all the adults are trash in this". Again I don't know why I love this trope but I do.

The story involves 4 characters with Luke being the main and his string of friends who each bring their own element to the story. My favorite was by far Jess, I loved everything about this girl, she was OBSESSED with plumbing and wants to be a plumber like her uncle, and I love this. It's not every day you get a girl who is interested in plumbing and pipes so I genuinely loved this approach to her, it made her so much more lovable. Paring her up with Luke who wasn't knowledgeable on such topics really helped give her a solid reason for being included, while also giving up insight into the type of person Luke is. He spends a lot of this book being worried for Jess because she isn't that great at shoveling and will probably spend her life in the underground if he can't find a way to help her. Not once did it ever cross his mind to leave her behind, he always took her into consideration, even if it meant fighting with his other two friends.

Ravi is another friend and while I don't think he particularly stood out, I do feel like a second book to needs to happen because uh I am concerned for this boy! I enjoyed the seeing the struggle he went through with Luke, and how they fought and butted heads through the story but came back together and where still friends, only to crushingly be torn apart.

One of the interesting bits about this book was the inclusion of ghostly elements. I really liked how the story centered around not only this evil woman Tabatha kidnapping children but around ghosts. At first I was little concerned about how Mann was going to connect this two plot points but he managed to do it really well. His ideas of how the ghostcloud worked was really fascinating and I enjoyed it every time it popped up in the story, although sometimes it felt like he forgot he was writing about ghosts because I don't think a ghost can tiptoe, but I'm going to let that slide. There was some slightly darker themes through the story, such as Alama's backstory and I mean honestly children being kidnapped is pretty dark, but finding out what was happening to the parents after and how certain adults where involved who the kids thought where trustworthy, its a lot to take in, but in the end it was all executed very well.

All in all this was fun, spooky, adventureous and little heartbreaking. I am serious though, I'd like there to be a follow up, I have concerns!

It’s hard to find a “Rick Riordan Presents” story that isn’t great. This was a fun (yet kinda sad) story that I think middle-grade aged would enjoy. There are a ton of exciting moments, but you have moments of darkness; however, it shouldn’t put you off the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel by Michael Mann, and I am excited to see where he goes from here.

Deep under the ground in an alternate reality of London, Luke Smith-Sharma shovels coal alongside hundreds of other children, all of whom have also been kidnapped. Every story is the same, they were all taken from fairly populated areas after a strange dense fog appeared. Each one grabbed from the streets in the day only to awaken in the dark of this new life of servitude,

Luke has been underground for roughly two years now, and his best friend Ravi has been there even longer, and they both know the only way out is through earning an amber ticket from Tabatha, the cruel leader of the whole operation. And the only way to do that is work the hardest, and never stand out. Every day the same. Scoop up. Lift. Pass forward.

It was all going fine until a new girl named Jess arrived. When Tabatha came to make her daily rounds of intimidation, Jess’ lack of experience nearly causes the entire chain to fail, when Luke interferes, it sets off a chain of events that will cause Luke to learn things about himself that he never knew. For one, he’s half of a ghost, and two, it may be up to him to stop Tabatha and find the truth before it’s too late.

Ghostcloud took me pleasantly by surprise and I really loved the characters, especially Jessi, and of course Stealth. Given the way the story ends, I really hope for this to be a continued series.

An intriguing story of a twelve year old’s quest to obtain freedom. Luke Smith-Sharma is a twelve year old who was kidnapped and forced to shovel underground in an old power station alongside many other kids. Their aim is to receive one of the amber tickets so they can rejoin their families and obtain their freedoms. However, when Luke gets punished during a kind gesture and has to clean the sewers he befriends a ghost named Alma and realizes the many truths behind what actually Tabatha Margate is doing in the power station.

This was a dark story with many dark elements. There is kidnapping, death, violence, abuse, sadness, threats, intimidation and more. This book wasn’t the happiest but it kept me hooked on every word. Luke was a character I could imagine. A simple boy who just wants to go back to his family by keeping his head down whilst also helping those who needed it because he’s kind. Luke’s character showed a measured growth in this story. He wasn’t the smartest or bravest and didn’t always make the best decisions, but that was what made him relatable.

I don’t know if this is a series but I need a second book. The author developed Luke’s friends so well that I was very interested in them. From Jess’s profound knowledge in plumbing, to Ravi’s ability to barter and get just the right items they needed, to Alma’s ghostly powers and directive, I desired more. It wasn’t a happy ending for them all to be honest and I think that’s what drives me to want to know more. It was a bittersweet ending for most, but it was one that seemed realistic.

The setting sometimes threw me off. I felt as though I was sometimes lost with the scenery. It is possible that maybe it’s because I don’t have any knowledge of traveling or history but I really did find some scenes hard to imagine. It made me miss out on some of the action and suspenseful scenes because I couldn’t visualize them.

The suspense, twist and turns in this book were spot on. There were many times I found I could guess what Tabatha was up to and what would happen next but was I wrong. The author did a great job in weaving little hints throughout the story and dialogue, making you believe something and then throwing something absolutely different yet believable at you.

Overall, this was a good read. It felt sad and disheartening at times, but it also made me cheer on the characters for their freedom.

Twelve-year-old Luke Smith-Sharma shovels coal under Battersea Power station. He keeps his head down, hoping to one day earn his freedom and return to his family, while avoiding the wrath of the evil Tabatha Margate. When he tries to help new girl Jess, Luke is punished and sent to clean the sewers of the haunted East Wing, a place from which few return. 

Whilst serving his punishment, Luke realises he can see things others can't in the Power Station: ghostly things. He befriends a ghost-girl called Alma, who can ride clouds through the night sky and bend their shape to her will. 
But when Luke discovers the terrible truth of why Tabatha Margate is kidnapping children and forcing them to work in the Power Station, Alma agrees to help him and his friends escape. Will Alma convince the Ghost Council to help their cause? Will Luke's discovery about who he really is threaten their plans for freedom? And can Luke find his voice, while trying to find a way home?

This was a middle grade story that I found fun but also slightly depressing. I really loved the adventure and excitement of the story, waiting to find out if Luke and the gang were going to escape the pits and make it home. But on the other hand it was sad to hear about Alma and her untimely end and also the fear and worry behind what would happen to Luke and the others’ families that were left behind.

The story also had a darker message about child trafficking which was at times a hard read as a secondary school teacher, but I think that Mann dealt with the issue well whilst raising awareness about a very important issue.

Overall an enjoyable read for many reasons.

This middle-grade novel is dark yet whimsical - an excellent choice for Autumn.

Initially, I chose this book due to its stunning cover and synopsis. The novel seemed like a fantastic choice for a fantasy read about ghosts! I always look for captivating reads, and I was pleasantly surprised that each chapter drew me in and kept me wanting to read more. The writing kept me engaged, despite feeling rushed at the book's beginning. Fortunately, the book just got better as I went.

The novel has several dark themes, including kidnapping and forced child labour. These topics are sometimes challenging to read because child trafficking and child slavery are real world problems and human rights violations. Now, the novel includes these dark themes in a middle-grade fantasy. And while the book is a whimsical novel, the grim and dark atmosphere is reminiscent of Charles Dickens' novels, though presented in a way that is potentially more accessible to younger readers. 

I did enjoy this novel, though the power plant was difficult to visualize. I don't think this will be an issue for all readers, but the greyscale descriptors made it difficult for me to discern the setting.

Finally, I'd like to touch on some things I thoroughly enjoyed in this novel. Of course, we always love a cat appearance, and Olivia and I were so happy to be introduced to Stealth the cat. I love the bond that Luke and Stealth shared and Stealth's storyline. I enjoyed most of the characters - my favourite character was Luke's grandma, Nana Chatterjee. I would have loved to have more of her in the book! It's so nice to see character growth for several characters. And the concept of embracing parts of us that are unique is excellent to include in the book. I recommend this book (though, please check out the content warnings on The Storygraph) and am looking forward to book 2, "Nightspark!"

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions are my own.

This was such a unique read! Set in a dark, dystopian London where kids shovel coal beneath the city, Ghostcloud is a spooky, thrilling story.

Luke was such a likable character, so it was easy to root for him after he is kidnapped and made to shovel coal with the other kids. There are revelations about his identity, themes of friendship and belonging, and genuinely creepy descriptions of the world that kept me glued to the pages. I definitely think this would be a fantastic read for any fans of MG fantasy.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ghostcloud follows the story of twelve-year-old Luke Smith-Sharma who shovels coal under a power station for the evil Tabatha Margate, hoping to earn his freedom and return to his family one day. But one day, when trying to help one of the new children, Jess, Luke is punished and sent to the haunted East Wing, where he meets a ghost-girl, Alma, and learns about his own powers as a half-ghost. Will Luke be able to use his newfound powers to escape Tabatha's captivity, along with his friends, and find a way home?

I thought this was such a fun, cute read! Fast-paced, clever and emotional, I really enjoyed Luke's arc, especially as he found out the truth about himself, and how he applied that to his own awful circumstances as a kidnapped child along with the others. It gave me major Snowpiercer vibes, but for a middle grade audience. I also really enjoyed how dystopian and diverse the world was, and Tabatha was such an intriguing villain, and the cast of characters were perfect for the hero's journey! At the heart of this story was a sense of family that I found popped off each page, and Luke's journey to going home but also acknowledging the friends around him as a different kind of family was so heartwarming!

This book is perfect for someone like me who has a healthy respect for the hereafter yet is terrified of ghosts. This novel demonstrates that ghosts have a playful side, too. Incredible excitement and thrilling action fill this story, including tense and terrifying parts.

Well, this was an interesting book. Set in a steampunk, dystopian London, Ghostcloud is a book about friendships, family, trust, and believing in yourself. (Well, not entirely sure if that would be the right phrase for it, but let's roll with it.)

Luke has been half all his life: first, half-Indian, and now apparently, half-ghost. When he's kidnapped and forced to shovel coal like many other children, his only hope of getting out is by following rules to win the coveted golden ticket - a ticket out of the shoveling and back to home, to freedom. So for years, he's kept his head down until one day, he steps up for another girl. Soon, one thing leads to another, and getting back home seems like it could happen quicker than he expected - but like all things, it comes with danger. The question is, would it be worth it?

This book was good, I won't deny it. The characters were created well (my favorite is Ravi, just saying, and then maybe Alma), and the dilemma posed in the book also was (after all, there's no really "right" choice, I wouldn't blame any of them for the choice they make). There were some comedic moments as well as some pretty scary thrills, so definitely something worth reading.

However, there was one problem: the setting. I hate to say "it's not you, it's me", but it's true. I'm not sure why I didn't consider that, but the setting isn't really my kind of thing. Oh, the author certainly made it well, so bleak and war-torn and dystopian. However, that's not my kind of thing, I don't do well with "gray" atmospheres, so... there's that. But if you're not someone who's deterred by that, then I would suggest you give it a try.

*3.3 stars overall

Luke's journey and friends was full of thrilling dares. Finding his family and a way back home weren't easy. Sometimes it made me shuddered for each step he had to went through.
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Longing for family, sank in a darkenss of underground, being tormented, job exploitation, no shelter, not enough food and health service were the cruelty of sort thhreatend all children's life.
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It was an amazing mixing of si-fi fantasy story. Luke and friends wasn't only brought me in an adventure deep down into the underground of a dirty tunnels, factory and chimney but also brought me flying in the sky riding cloud with Alma. And of course e heartwarming moment with family Luke missed it up for years.

Ghostcloud has all the elements I love in a middle-grade fantasy: a mixture of vivid worldbuilding and some darker moments, larger-than-life characters, and both heartwarming and heartwrenching scenes. That said, I felt that this story was less than the sum of its parts. I liked the story enough, but I felt it lacking a solid hook to reel the readers in. I felt that the characters could have been developed more. The magic, while interesting, was not necessarily leave me fascinated. I did love the overall mystery of the story though and how everything was resolved in the end. I think this would be perfect as a light read for Halloween.

I loved what the author did with this book. This book deals with a very important topic (child labour) while still maintaining the middle grade aspect and I applaud him for it. The plot is good and the characters are very lovable too. We see their struggles with the system finding a way to be finally free, literally and figuratively. Luke, Jessi and Ravi´s friendship, along with Alma is also cute with many heart-warming moments. But even with all those things, my favorite part was still the child labour element and how they made that the true antagonist of the book. The desire to break that system was captivating and I was rooting for them all the time. Such a nice yet complex read. My thanks to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What worked:
The premise is very creative, as it takes a look at ghosts from a different viewpoint. Some ghosts linger with the living by connecting to objects or places. Ghostcloud refers to ghostly characters in the book who are connected to the air. Alma meets Luke, the main character, and soon realizes he’s also a ghostcloud, and a half-ghost, since his heart stopped beating for a minute at childbirth. Half-ghosts are extremely rare and this opens up many possibilities for this character. His soul is able to travel anywhere air flows so he’s able to explore places outside of his body. He discovers a possible way to escape, but that creates new questions. The author presents ingenious concepts regarding ghosts, their origins, and their abilities.
The setting for this dystopian novel is London sometime in the future. Luke and his friends are slaves and spend most of their time digging coal for a cruel, ruthless woman named Tabatha, but a new girl named Jess has special knowledge of plumbing. She discovers there’s something different about the pipes and the incinerator inside Battersea which creates a mystery as to what’s really going on. Luke has a love and talent for solving mysteries, so figuring out what’s going on and finding a way to escape are within his wheelhouse. The author slowly provides clues allowing readers to discover Tabatha’s evil plans and this problem becomes the focus of the plot. It’s an innovative problem that’s ruthless and malevolent.
Jess is the most interesting character in the book. She always has a positive attitude and doesn’t allow her circumstances to bring her down. It becomes a bit of a joke later in the story. Jess constantly notices inconsistencies inside Battersea that cause the characters to consider new ideas. She trusts Luke completely and is willing to take risks to support him. Physically, she seems very fragile and Luke is worried about her survival as a digger. However, her courage and loyalty to Luke make her an indispensable friend.
What didn’t work as well:
The title doesn’t indicate this book is the start of a series but the resolution leaves unanswered questions that seem to indicate a sequel will be coming. The book is still highly entertaining but the ending may leave readers wanting more.
The Final Verdict:
Bridging the gap between the living and the dead. It’s refreshing and unexpected to come across a book with such original literary thoughts. Luke is an appealing main character with a pure and endearing personality. The story will appeal to lovers of ghosts and underdogs and I highly recommend you give it a shot.

This book was a really fun read. Might be a little too dark themed for some younger readers. There are definitely dark themes but overall I liked the plot and characters. As a meteorologist, did enjoy how accurate the weather talk is.