I liked this book. I thought it had a unique and original storyline. I have definitely never read a book like this before. The characters were good, the main character could be annoying at times, but it added to the story. I read the synopsis for this book and just knew I needed to read this book.

This book was okay. It was a victim of the "great premise, not-so-great execution."

In theory, this is a really cool book. We have spooky collector businesses (and the drama of competing businesses, who knew that was a thing you'd have to compete for), an ensemble cast of characters, the cool combination of spooky and humor.

I just couldn't connect with the characters the way I wanted to. I love a great ensemble cast of characters, I want to fall in love with everyone in the book, wanting to know everything about them and why they're making the decisions they're making, seeing them bounce off of other characters. But I didn't really get that in the way I wanted, I liked the interactions, but not the characters. And that was weird. I think I mainly didn't vibe with the main character, but I just really couldn't connect with any of them.

I just wanted everything to mesh together better. But I really can see a lot of people liking this, overall, it is a really unique book and a really unique kind of story. And character preferences are just that, preferences. So some people may absolutely love this main character even if I didn't.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

A super fun, rollicking adventure about a group that investigates and destroys arcane objects. I appreciated the book's balance of humor and darkness. If you enjoy the work of Mike Mignolia, you'll love it.

This was a story I both really enjoyed and really didn't.

The positives were the setting, the idea of two competing businesses trying to get arcane items. I really enjoyed the characters and the way in which there was an attempt at putting a science spin on the concept of ghosts and magic. The whole array of supporting characters were great, and well rounded, giving a whole lot of found family vibes.

My main issue was with the main character. I just didn't like her. I found her constant 'woe is me, everything is my fault' attitude annoying and the while I suppose I was meant to think she was brave or something, I just found myself rolling my eyes every time she did the exact thing she was told not to. And then was shocked every time that there were consequences to her actions. Her mother was bewildering and I didn't buy the sudden character pivot that occurred about 75% of the way through.

The geeky storyline read like a plup novel which I think was the point, and worked well. It's just a shame they didn't actually play more of MoM.

The way in which a larger world is set up was great too, I wanted to know more about the MC's mysterious uncle and of course the painting. Oh the painting. That thing was so creepy and well done and I really hope the second book builds on it, because I need more of that painting. Just not, physically, anywhere near me.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~