The Library of the Dead
Ratings32
Average rating3.7
Sixth Sense meets Stranger Things in T. L. Huchu's The Library of the Dead, a sharp contemporary fantasy following a precocious and cynical teen as she explores the shadowy magical underside of modern Edinburgh. WHEN GHOSTS TALK SHE WILL LISTEN Ropa dropped out of school to become a ghostalker – and they sure do love to talk. Now she speaks to Edinburgh’s dead, carrying messages to those they left behind. A girl’s gotta earn a living, and it seems harmless enough. Until, that is, the dead whisper that someone’s bewitching children – leaving them husks, empty of joy and strength. It’s on Ropa’s patch, so she feels honor-bound to investigate. But what she learns will rock her world. Ropa will dice with death as she calls on Zimbabwean magic and Scottish pragmatism to hunt down clues. And although underground Edinburgh hides a wealth of dark secrets, she also discovers an occult library, a magical mentor and some unexpected allies. Yet as shadows lengthen, will the hunter become the hunted?
Series
Featured Series
3 primary booksEdinburgh Nights
Edinburgh Nights is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2020 with contributions by T.L. Huchu.
Reviews
Popular Reviews
Reviews with the most likes.
I loved Ropa and her friends. We don't get a clear explanation how the world got the way it is, but I'm fine with that. I liked how much Ropa did to help her family and other vulnerable people.
The plot jumped around more than I expected. The magic system was a little confusing. The ending felt rushed. And there wasn't enough library in it. However, this is book 1, so a lot of that could be worked on in book 2.
This was an intriguing hodgepodge of ideas and genres all smashed together. We have some kind of post apocalyptic Edinburgh, people who can commune with ghosts, disappearing kids and magic all colliding together into a fascinating mix.
The main character is a bit of a loveable rascal, who helps pay for her families bills by communing with the dead and providing a messenger service between them and the living. Through one of these ghosts she ends up getting tasked with finding a kid who has gone missing. Researching this leads her to the titular Library.
The story feels very different to typical urban fantasy that I have read - the familiar yet different setting lends both a comforting and discombobulating element. This ends up feeling very fresh! An intriguingly different read.
I frickin' loved this book, and I want the next one now.
It took me a couple of tries to get into it the story – mostly because I kept starting the audiobook as I was going to bed and didn't make it very far. (I'm very familiar with the first chapter now).
Ropa is a wonderful, badass, caring main character, and I want 20 more books about her.
The magic, ghosts, and other realms were fascinating, but they weren't the book's main focus. I'm looking forward to more of the worldbuilding in the next book! It may be the librarian in me, but I was slightly disappointed that they didn't spend more time in the library...
Audiobook Review: I think listening to the audiobook made the experience of the book 10 times better. Tinashe Warikandwa is absolutely perfect as Ropa. I will only listen to the audio version of this book and its sequels, I loved it so much.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
