I have never met a Rachel Hartman book I didn't like... and she continues that trend with her newest book Among Ghosts. Hartman tells a poignant story about grief, loss, change, and growth. She had me quietly contemplating at points and crying at others. This book offered a sort of catharsis when thinking about those we've lost. I was blown away by the way she explores choices and the weight of those choices.

We meet Charl right before all hell breaks loose in the town he resides in with his mother, a dutiful nun, a dragon doctor, and a knight who no longer slays dragons. Charl is dared to meet his nemesis at the old monastery, but while there destruction occurs leaving neither boy the same as they went up. Shortly after this mishap plague settles on Charl's town and the past he and his mother have run from is catching up. A dragon, a nun, and a spymaster are all pursuing Charl and his mother and they have to figure out how to respond. What's left is a story that will linger with you.

I will say that even though she's not a main character, I loved the role Charl's mother played in this story, she is a parent who saw her child's safety and happiness, and ability to be himself threatened and does everything she can to protect him and support him. It was a display of parenthood that resonated and that I wish all children received. Hands down her character is so well written.

I could probably go on for hours about all the pieces of this story that resonated with me or kept me turning pages but I would love you as the reader to find out all those things for yourself. Hands down if you like fantasy you should check this book out. Thank you to the publisher for providing an advanced readers copy via Netgalley in Exchange for an honest review.

This book slayed so hard. Not only was the cover gorgeous, but so was the plot.

I was invested the entire time and wish I had more.

Rachel Hartman is seriously one of my favorite authors. I love her prose and style and was very excited to see her with a new addition to this world. Something about her evokes classic fantasy. It makes me feel like I'm in my childhood again full of wonder.

This book is a beautiful haunting and introspective novella that blends historical fiction with supernatural elements. Everything was painted in a vivid picture of both the horrors of war and the quiet, poignant moments of human connection. The novella explores themes of grief, duty, and the weight of the past with a delicate touch, making it a compelling and emotional read.

I'm going to start off with saying that that cover is absolutely gorgeous. This was my first Rachel Hartman story and I am very happy that it was a breeze to enter the world of Seraphina without an ounce of previous knowledge. This story was not what I expected from the summary though. I expected a bit more of an adventure type story, but despite having less excitement than I expected it was still very good. That opening chapter is memorable and a perfect example of what you will be getting through the book. The title brings to mind the ghosts both physical and mental of our main character and his character development throughout the narrative.

A middle grade novel that has some really deep themes that I adored. At times I got quite emotional reading it. The narrative is very powerful. Will check out from this author.

This book was truly wonderful and I could not stop reading. The characters were well developed an the world was amazingly done. There was something in each character that one could love.

Among Ghosts is set in the same world as Serphina, but earlier in time. Dragons are part of this delicious story of a very muddy town called St. Muckle’s, a runaway mother and son, a nun, and dragon fighter and a hosts of ghosts bound to an abandoned abbey. Life has only been looking up, when a plague descends upon their quiet turnip eating town.
The characters are so alive with such complexity and love. Their inner thoughts and actions were captivating. Everyone had a little bit that you could love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this DRC.
#AmongGhosts #NetGalley

This middle grade, with its rich imagery and world-building fills a niche in children's fantasy that is reminiscent of Lloyd Alexander or Brain Jacques with the unfortunately evergreen topics of bullying and misinformation. This novel would work very well in a classroom to teach about perspective taking, groupthink, as one of the antagonists uses subterfuge to spread lies and discord among a previously harmonious community. The addition of the ghosts and the evolution of their rather tragic backstories allow for discussion about how tradition can become warped over time and how important it is to ask questions. Identity and the trauma of living in an abusive household are also delicately touched on.

Hartman is a phenomenal world builder. This book is really anchored in its vivid imagery and that can almost make up for what the story lacks in depth, Charl is easy to bond with and feel sympathy for but solving problems that arise in the book often feels too easy for him. It seem that he relies very heavily on the ghosts to do it for him, This makes the back half of the book feel very rushed as all the major conflict is solved very quickly within the last threeish chapters. It is still however a very good book about identity and our ties to those around us both living and dead.